The Enterprising Non-Profits program (ENP) will continue its expansion throughout rural British Columbia thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.
An investment of $155,250 was announced today by MP Russ Hiebert, Member of Parliament for South Surrey - White Rock - Cloverdale and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.
"Entrepreneurship continues to drive job creation and economic growth in British Columbia," said MP Hiebert, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "Our Government, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, is working to ensure the non-profit sector can become more entrepreneurial and capitalize on this growing sector of the provincial economy."
The funding will support the following activities:
- Providing grants to rural applicants for enterprise development,
- Delivering enterprise development workshops in rural communities,
- Securing funding for rural enterprise development,
- Negotiating partnerships with rural community development organizations to deliver the ENP program in their respective communities; and,
- Examining the potential replication of the ENP program in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Over the past 10 years the ENP program has been instrumental in launching more than 60 new businesses and has delivered some 200 grants, providing $1.24 million in funding to both existing and new organizations.
"Whether Prince George in the north, Trail in the Kootenays or Summerland in the Okanagan, ENP's initial rural expansion efforts have proven the need and the value of social enterprise in rural communities," said David LePage, program manager. "The renewal of funding allows us to further expand our rural efforts to use social enterprise as a business framework to create employment opportunities for the disabled, increase service delivery options and strengthen the sustainability of non-profit organizations."
In 2003, not-for-profit organizations comprised 9.9 per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product, yet, 42 per cent reported revenue generation as a key obstacle to program financial stability. Enterprising Non-Profits is a funding program that provides matching grants to non-profit organizations in BC who are interested in starting or expanding a business. Funding partners include Bell Canada, Coast Capital Credit Union, Centre for Community Enterprise, the United Way, the Vancouver Foundation and Vancity Credit Union.
"As a founding partner with a provincial mandate, Vancouver Foundation has seen steady growth through the past 11 years for the enterprising non-profits program, " said Faye Wightman, President & CEO of Vancouver Foundation. "We have seen the need for expansion of this program into the Province of British Columbia. This new funding will help enp to deepen their support to rural areas of BC and encourage greater strength and vitality in enterprising non-profits throughout the Province."
The ENP program was established in 1997 in response to requests by organizations for support in the development of revenue-generating enterprises, as a way to stabilize and diversify their funding base, and enhance their programs or services. ENP program funding enables organizations to conduct planning activities related to the development of a business venture.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada.
For additional information, contact:
Tom Wakefield
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-2445
Cell: (604) 218-4395
Email: tom.wakefield@wd.gc.ca
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at Western Economic Diversification Canada.
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