With only 16% of Canadian businesses being owned/led by women, the Government of Canada recognizes that advancing women’s economic participation in the economy is good for the country’s bottom line and has set the goal of doubling the number of women-owned/women-led businesses by 2025.
A Project to stimulate women-owned and women-led business start-ups and scale-ups by increasing access to business development supports throughout the Northern Ontario region.
- Enable female entrepreneurs to access professional services they would typically not be able to afford on their own
- Enable female entrepreneurs to access experts in the transportation sector
- Provide access to consultants who can assist female entrepreneurs in operating more efficient businesses/realizing cost-saving measures
- Educate female entrepreneurs with regards to the regulatory requirements involved in exporting goods
- Provide female entrepreneurs with the opportunity to attend, free of charge, workshops hosted by their local Community Funding Development Corporations
The NOW project will take place Fall 2019 to Fall 2022 throughout Northern Ontario.
Northern Ontario Business
NOW – Success Stories
I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Northern Ontario Women (NOW), Business Program for selecting my application as a successful grant fund recipient.
I am certain that most female entrepreneurs can attest; it is necessary to wear multiple hats when trying to get a new business off the ground (i.e., networking specialist, marketing guru, social media maniac, webmaster extraordinaire, busy bee bookkeeper, ace accountant, etc.). You literally must be a business “Handywoman, Jill of all Trades”, to stay afloat while bootstrapping one’s entrepreneurial dream venture.
Thanks to this program, I can now cross off several of my to-do wish list items that kept being reprioritized due to cost.
In the current, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a threat to everyone’s health and the livelihood and success of many businesses across the nation. The reality of the situation is that my business (like many) is closed until further notice. However, I will use this downtime wisely to think strategically about next steps and look forward to reopening.
Again, I thank Lambac/FedNor for helping me acquire these new business resource tools for my toolbelt. Your support is significant to enabling the expansion of a new service offering and undoubtedly future business growth – I am forever grateful.
Jodi-Rose RicherOwner – Timeless Staging & Interior Decorating Inc. / Northern Estate Sales
www.TimelessStaging.ca
The NOW program was a valuable resource to access, and has helped us begin exploring the development of a new product or service in our community that stands to benefit not only our business, but create jobs for others and boost our local economy. Despite the current pandemic situation, the grant allowed us to continue our research to the point where we can use this down time to our benefit, and continue our project so that we hit the ground running when our business is open again. The NOW grant created an opportunity for our business to grow, and the consultant we hired also gained valuable hands-on experience through the process that will help her continue to grow her business and better serve her clients. As a new business, the timing of the grant gave us a terrific head start into generating cash flow sooner than we would have been able to without the grant.
The process itself was simple, easy to understand, and staff were readily available to answer questions in a timely manner. We applaud the Government of Canada and FedNor for recognizing the value and potential of Northern Ontario Women and hope the program will continue.
Musically yours,
Leslie-Anne
LAMBAC (LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation) located on Manitoulin Island, is the Host CFDC for the NOW Project, and all Community Future Development Corporations located throughout Northwest and Northeast Ontario are involved as Partner CFDCs.
Contact your local CFDC (Community Futures Development Corporation) to obtain an application and to find out more about this exciting project.
You can also email now@lambac.org to obtain an application.
