Community Futures Central Okanagan will be open until noon December 24 and then will close the office for Christmas Holidays until Thursday January 2, 2014 and will resume regular office hours at this time. The staff, contractors and Board Of Directors would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have helped Community Futures this past year. Enjoy your holidays!

Taking Care of Business newsletter for the month of November click here

http://www.bluebeetlebooks.com/newsletter/11_2013/cfdc_central_okanagan

(Le français suit)

Re: Western Innovation Initiative – Call for Proposals

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) recently launched the Western Innovation Initiative (WINN) to assist SMEs in commercializing new technology-based products, processes and services.

WINN is a $100 million, five-year federal funding initiative that provides repayable contributions to SME’s located in Western Canada.  WINN compliments our existing programs and supports an environment where local businesses can thrive and innovate.

WINN seeks to enhance Canada’s business advantages and encourage the private sector to bring new ideas to market.  Full details are available online at http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/14857.asp.

Western Economic Diversification Canada

Objet : Initiative d’innovation dans l’Ouest – Appel de propositions

Diversification de l’économie de l’Ouest Canada (DEO) a récemment lancé l’Initiative d’innovation dans l’Ouest (Initiative InnO) pour aider les PME à commercialiser de nouveaux produits, procédés et services technologiques.

L’Initiative InnO est une initiative fédérale de 100 millions de dollars sur cinq ans qui offre des contributions remboursables à des PME de l’Ouest canadien. L’Initiative InnO s’ajoute à nos programmes courants et crée un environnement dans lequel les entreprises locales peuvent croître et innover.

L’Initiative InnO vise à accroître l’avantage concurrentiel du Canada et à encourager le secteur privé à commercialiser des idées novatrices. Vous trouverez tous les renseignements au sujet de l’Initiative sur le site Web de DEO à l’adresse http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/fra/14857.asp.

Diversification de l’économie de l’Ouest Canada

A New Partnership BEtween the canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) and

community FUTURES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION of CENTRAL OKANAGAN (CFDCCO)

Coming together to support youth entrepreneurship

Kelowna, BC, October 23 – The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Okanagan. The creation of this partnership will ensure that all eligible young entrepreneurs throughout the Central Okanagan can benefit from the CYBF program.

CYBF offers young entrepreneurs age 18-39 a start-up package of mentorship and financing of up to $15,000 via low interest rate start-up financing and may qualify for a match or double match of financing up to $30,000 via CYBF’s partnership with BDC- Business Development Bank of Canada. CYBF is able to deliver these programs across the country through important community partnerships with organizations such as Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Okanagan.

“We are thrilled to be working with Community Futures Development Corporation to reach more young entrepreneurs in this territory who are starting businesses. The proven combination of inexpensive financing and mentorship will contribute significantly to the success of these small businesses, and ultimately the community.” says Mike Porter, Manager of Business Development for BC and Yukon at CYBF.

“Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Okanagan is excited to take the lead as CYBF’s Community Partner for the Central Okanagan and deliver this valuable program targeting Okanagan entrepreneurs under the age of 40. The CYBF program will provide more information and solutions to one of the questions we hear most at Community Futures – where can I get advice and start-up funding for my business?,” says Larry Widmer, General Manager of Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Okanagan.

For more information and assistance about a CYBF loan through Community Futures call Scott Carlson 250-868-2132 ext 227 or to find more information about CYBF please visit www.cybf.ca.

Larry Widmer of Community Futures (left), Okanagan-Mission MLA Steve Thomson and city Councillor Gail Given (right) talk with Leo Bartels of Leo's Videos in the South Pandosy during Tuesday's Business Walk.

 

Alistair Waters/Capital News

By Alistair Waters - Kelowna Capital News

The song remains the same for Central Okanagan businesses - recruitment and retention of employees is still a major issue.

Once again, that was the predominant feeling of business owners and operators interviewed during this week's second full Business Walk in the Central Okanagan. (An industry specific walk focussing on manufacturing was held in May.)

According to walk coordinator Corie Griffiths, business development officer with the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, more than 380 businesses were visited and interviewed briefly by 27 teams of "walkers" Tuesday, about 50 more than the the 320 visited last year.

This year the walk included areas in Peachland, West Kelowna, the Westbank First Nation reserve, Lake Country and three areas in Kelowna—downtown, Rutland and South Pandosy, with South Pandosy being new this year.

Griffiths said she was not surprised that employee recruitment and retention was once again a central concern for businesses here as our demographic has more people leaving the workforce here than entering it.

She said while the numbers are preliminary, it appears that the number of owners and operators reporting business as steady or improving this year is about the same as last year. In 2012, 88 per cent of those visited by the walk teams had the optimistic outlook.

One of the businesses visited in South Pandosy was Leo's Videos, one of just two movie rental stores left in the city.

Owner Leo Bartel's said he was happy to see the walk team and glad it had provincial, as wel as municipal and Community Futures representation.

He said business has been picking up in the last year but still is not where is was during the recession.

Still, he said improvements to the South Pandosy business district has helped attract more people and that has been god to see.

A full public report on the 2013 Business Walk is expected to be complete within the next few weeks.

Griffith said this year, there was a stronger participation by politicians, with two of the three local MLAs, Norm Letnick and Steve Thomson joining walk teams, as well as MP Ron Cannan and several Kelowna city councillors. City staff also participated, as well as other provincial and local representatives and business people.

And the business walk concept  appears to be catching on elsewhere.

While the province now uses it as a tool in its resources for small business, at the same time as the walk was happening here, there was also a business walk taking place in Vernon.

Griffiths said the EDC here shared its information with its counterpart in Vernon and it was decided to do a pilot walk there this year to gauge the business climate in the north Okanagan city as well.

see full story at :

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/226226901.html

Join Community Futures and Women's Enterprise Centre at our Open House to celebrate Small Business Month and our Business Development Centre partnership. Open House will be held from 3 - 7 pm on October 24, 2013 at Landmark #1, #201 & #210 - 1726 Dolphin Avenue, Kelowna BC.

click here for invitation and registration information.