Rural Opportunities Fund Virtual Showcase Event!
Day 1 - May 17, 2022
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Agri-Tourism Innovation Cluster Challenge
CF Wild Rose, Alberta
Project Total: $72,100.00
Contact: Wendy Gerbrandt, Community Economic Development Officer | wendyg@albertacf.com
Project Description: The Agri-Tourism innovation Challenge is designed to catalyze and scale up Agri-Tourism by incentivizing operators to engage their neighbors in building product clusters and integrated supply chains. It will provide an environment to foster diversification, business innovation, retention and collaboration while expanding existing operations and assisting in the sustainability of rural Alberta communities within the Community Futures Wild Rose region.
Awarded the Community Awards of Excellence from the Economic Developers of Alberta
Positioning and Enhancing Tourism Sector in Eastern Manitoba
CF Winnipeg River Corporation, Manitoba
Project Total: $50,000.00
Contact: Sharalyn Reitlo, General Manager | reitlo@cfwr.mb.ca
Project Description: Through a three-pronged approach for business and industry development this project will significantly impact business development, expansion, and transition within an industry that has great growth potential in this part of Manitoba. First is Pre- Conference Partnership Formation. Second is Conference Implementation. Third is Tourism Sector Development Input: An Eastman Tourism Sector Development Strategy will be developed for continued focus on business development, retention and succession in tourism.
Interlake Tourism Driftscape App Development Project
CF West Interlake, Manitoba
Project Total: $231,900.00
Contact: Lana Cowling-Mason, General Manager | lana@westinterlake.com
Project Description: Community Futures North Red, East Interlake and West Interlake ("the CFs) have partnered with Interlake Tourism Association (ITA) to deploy the Driftscape Mobile App to provide an accurate, comprehensive information resource for visitors to the region. Driftscape is a mobile app that provides a platform for local businesses/organizations to share site-specific stories, tours, and events to attract external visitors that will increase expenditures and in-turn investment.
Discovering St. Malo
CF Triple R Corporation, Manitoba
Project Total: $55,300.00
Contact: Christine Morin, Community Development Coordinator | coordinator@cftripler.ca
Project Description: Community Futures has identified that support is needed more than ever to help the tourism sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The intent of the Discovering St. Malo project will be to create a landing page that will have all the St. Malo and area business and activity centers listed as well as market ready, bookable multi-day itineraries. It is to be a simplistic one stop look and find for all relevant information that a consumer would need while visiting the area. With more than 80% of visitors using their mobile devices, it is a great way to market and promote small businesses who are focused on the local economy.
Tourism Industry Support and Opportunity Analysis
CF Entre-Corp, Alberta
Project Total: $50,000.00
Contact Information: Sean Blewett, General Manager | sblewett@albertacf.com
Project Description: This project will use a data driven software to collect analytics and data visualizations to optimize marketing strategies in the tourism sector. The software will support the destination marketing organization stakeholders list, as well as through business retention and expansion networks. A project coordinator will be hired to coordinate events and gather data. Funds will also be used to market a modern trolley for transportation to and from scheduled tours and special events.
The Great BC Business Sale
CF Alberni-Clayoquot, British Columbia
Project Total: $300,000.00
Contact: Lori Camire, General Manager | lori@cfac.ca
Project Description: This project is a two-year long initiative and collaboration of government and nongovernmental partners working together to promote and support entrepreneurship in rural and nonmetropolitan regions of BC. It intends to address challenges in business retention and succession through showcasing the great business opportunities available in these communities throughout the province. The initiative includes considerable pre planning and preparation for the tradeshow event and concludes with post event support to buyers and sellers.
BREWD - Retention Expansion and Workforce Development
CF Entre-Corp, Alberta
Project Total: $300,00.00
Contact: Sean Blewett, General Manager | sblewett@albertacf.com
Project Description: Funding will be used to complete and implement the BREWD action plan that addresses businesses retention, succession planning and support workforce development to meet evolving business requirements. The outreach will involve communities that are underrepresented in the local economy with the largest focus on New Canadians and Youth.
NOIM - North Okanogan Innovation Centre and Maker Space
CF North Okanogan, British Columbia
Project Total: $158,880.00
Contact: Leigha Horsfield, General Manager | leighah@futuresbc.com
Project Description: Using the hub and spoke model, the North Okanogan Innovation Centre and Maker Space will connect existing community assets and provide programming for Youth innovation events, succession planning sessions, women in tech events, lectures and networking events.
Community Based Business Transition in the Parkland
CF Parkland Inc, Manitoba
Project Total: $244,179.60
Contact: Charlene Gulak, Entrepreneurship Coordinator | cdc@communityfuturesparkland.ca
Project Description: Will utilize a two-pronged approach to address challenges related to business transition and retention in rural communities in the parkland. First by strengthening business transition opportunities for established entrepreneurs. Second develop entrepreneurial mindsets through work with community partners within the wider community and providing workshops and programming to achieve the goals of the project.
