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grants for female run businesses

$85,000 in grants to support women-led business in the north

Sep 11, 2020 | 5:00 AM

PRINCE GEORGE—Support for female entrepreneurs is on the way in the north.

Community Futures Fraser Fort George has announced $85,000 in grants for businesses majority owned and led by women. Grants of up to $5,000 will be distributed to support female entrepreneurs in hiring a Consultant with the specialized expertise required to pivot their business, amidst current uncertain times.

“The opportunity to access a consultant grant comes at a critical time as women entrepreneurs are striving to reposition or pivot their businesses during an unprecedented time.”— Susan Stearns, General Manager, CF FFG

The grant funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada through the Women Entrepreneur Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund, the grant may be used as a ‘stand-alone’ for consulting services or to leverage other resources such as the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) consultant rebate program or lending from financial institutions.

The grant will be used to support professional services and cannot be used for operating expenses or fixed assets. Eligible businesses will have to have been in operation for a minimum of two year, financially viable prior to the pandemic, and must be able to demonstrate the impact of the pandemic on operations. The closing date for the first round of applications is Oct.20, 2020.

Community Futures is a community-based economic renewal initiative, established by the Federal Government in 1985. Their main objectives are to help rural Canadians start or expand a business and to help sustain and improve communities and their local economies.