Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, today announced the renewal of federal funding of $168,300 to Community Futures Manitoba Inc. (CFM) aimed at strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal entr epreneurs and businesses to thrive.
CFM will provide Aboriginal Business Service Network (ABSN) services to Manitoba Aboriginals and will coordinate the delivery of services through the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre (C/MBSC).
"T he Government of Canada is committed to funding initiatives that foster and increase Aboriginal entrepreneurship resulting in economic growth, technological innovation and job creation," said MP Bruinooge. "This funding will assist Aboriginal entrepreneur s across the province in starting and growing small- and medium-sized businesses by taking advantage of resources tailored to meet their unique requirements."
Today's funding renewal under the Western Diversification Program will support the Aboriginal Business Service Network (ABSN) in providing and expanding its wide range of services to Aboriginal communities. The investment will enable ABSN to undertake several projects, including capacity building activities by holding at least three Aborigi nal Entrepreneurship Roundtables to gauge challenges and provide strategic information for future program development. These activities also include projects in three communities aimed at promoting Aboriginal Youth Involvement as well as the Aboriginal B usiness Plan Competition that has proven highly successful in the past.
"The continued expansion of entrepreneurship in Aboriginal communities will be a crucial component of the diversification and growth of the economy in Western Canada" said Jaso n Denbow, Executive Director of Community Futures Manitoba. "CFM is proud to expand the services available to Aboriginal entrepreneurs through the ABSN program in partnership with Manitoba's Community Futures organizations."
Supported by Western Ec onomic Diversification Canada, Community Futures Manitoba Inc. is an association representing the 16 Community Futures organizations established throughout rural and northern Manitoba. Each of these organizations delivers a variety of services ranging fr om local economic strategic planning, technical and advisory services to businesses, loans to small- and medium-sized businesses, and services targeted to youth and entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre was es tablished in 1998 as a joint partnership between the federal and provincial governments to consolidate similar services into a single-window for information. It is mandated to serve small business by offering the business and trade information they need t o succeed in today's business environment. Western Economic Diversification Canada is a managing partner of the C/MBSC.
The Aboriginal Business Service Network is a national initiative with the goal of improving access to business information for n ew and existing Aboriginal entrepreneurs.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and encourage diversifi cation of the western economy, as well as to advance the interests of the West in national economic policy.
Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: (613) 943-1838
Christine Landry
Project Coordinator
Community Futures Manitoba
Winnipeg , Manitoba
(204) 943-2905
www.cfmanitoba.ca
