Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Futures - 250-265-3674 ext 201

We are committed to helping people in the Central Kootenay region who are currently operating or are about to start their own business.

Community Futures Central Kootenay is a non-profit economic development organization. We are committed to helping people in the Central Kootenay region who are currently operating or are about to start their business.

We aim to:
-assist existing and new small businesses in the Central Kootenay region with training, loans, counselling and resources
-provide financial support for eligible individuals contemplating self-employment as a career option
-bring together key community partners and the region as a whole to work toward the common goal of sustainable community economic development

Loans

Since 1985 Community Futures has been lending money to small businesses throughout the Central Kootenay. During the past 3 decades we have authorized loans totalling more than $20 million to 650+ businesses, creating or maintaining close to 2,100 jobs.

At Community Futures we are here to listen to your business idea as well as discuss any of your other financial needs.
Unlike most financial institutions, we are not a formula lender. Instead we assess every business venture on the basis of its own merit. Community Futures also has the ability to explore financing for businesses that are unable to secure funding under reasonable terms and conditions from traditional lenders. In some cases we may be prepared to consider a position of higher risk than other lenders.

Our loans program is open to any new or existing business.

Self-Employment Program

The Self-Employment Program, supported by the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement, helps people who are unemployed and wish to start their own business. The Self-Employment Program offers:
•Assistance writing your business plan
•Income benefits (for up to 48 weeks) to assist new entrepreneurs with their personal living expenses while they are establishing their businesses. Income earned by the business can then be reinvested back into the business allowing it to become self-sufficient once the funding ends.
•Free training and counselling for the duration of the contract to assist new entrepreneurs in managing their business.

The Self-Employment Program is open to individuals who meet at least one of the following criteria:

- Be currently receiving employment Insurance (EI) or have had an EI claim in the past three years or a maternity/parental claim in the past five years and have not re-entered the workforce.

- Be currently receiving BC Benefits with a Persons with Disabilities (PWD) status, or Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) status.

- Be a person with a disability who may or may not be receiving any other forms of support i.e. CPP disability.


Video conferencing (available in the Nelson office)

The applications of video conferencing are limitless and include training, meetings, announcements, and even staff recruitment, all at a fraction of the time and expense associated with sending participants to a single meeting location.
When you can’t meet face to face, communicate interactively and cost effectively across great distances at our video conferencing location in Nelson, BC.
For more information about our video conferencing, pricing and availability, contact Carmen at extension 102, or Janeen at 100.

Customized Training for businesses throughout our region

Community Futures offers:
•customized training programs or group workshops for your staff or volunteers
•a large database of instructors and workshops who are able to tailor a workshop to meet your organization's needs
•a spacious, comfortable training facility in Nelson and a state-of-the-art computer lab
•workshops in your workplace or alternate location if it would better meet your needs

Workshops throughout the region

Community Futures’ workshops cover the gamut of business skills on the following topics:
•Business plan development
•Marketing/Sales
•Bookkeeping and other financial skills
•Basic print and web design
•Computer skills
•Personal development
•Open labs to assist you with something you’re working on


Free Business Counselling throughout our region

Community Futures Central Kootenay offers business counselling sessions free of charge to anyone looking for guidance starting up a new business or running an existing business. Appointments are available in Kalso, Nelson, Creston/East Shore, Nakusp/New Denver/Upper Slocan Valley, Salmo and Castlegar.

Call our main office or email for information regarding business counselling or to book an appointment: 250 352 1933 ext. 100 info@futures.bc.ca. Or call the number listed for your area.

For Creston/East shore contact Alison Bjorkman at 250.428.6356 to book an appointment.

For the Arrow and Slocan Lake region and the Lardeau area contact Kay Ryan-Schweitzer at 250.265.3674 ext. 201 to book an appointment.

Other Services in our Nelson office include:

Internet and computer access for business research and development

Lending and resource library for business research and education

Tags: Nonprofit Organization,Professional Service