Community Futures offices support small businesses in rural communities across Alberta. They offer:
- loans
- tools
- guidance
- mentoring
There are 27 Community Futures offices in Alberta, including one in Fort McMurray, in the Wood Buffalo region.
Community Futures Wood Buffalo works with community leaders and other key stakeholders on economic development projects to support entrepreneurs. They support activities that add value to the local economy.
The years before the pandemic were hard on Fort McMurray and nearby communities. In 2016, the region faced the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history. It cost over $9 billion to repair the damage.
In 2020, a spring flood disrupted the people of Fort McMurray again. This added to the economic downturn and stress brought on by the pandemic.
During the pandemic, the Government of Canada launched the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF). The RRRF provided funding to businesses and communities hurt by the pandemic.
Through the RRRF, PrairiesCan invested $549,583 in Community Futures Wood Buffalo. The funds enabled it to deliver its Business Support Program, and help the Fort McMurray economy recover.
Through this program, local businesses received one-on-one support. Businesses got access to a wide range of professional services, such as accounting and human resources, as well as tailored advice and resources. This helped them recover. And it helped them grow, to create jobs and to keep serving the community.
Community Futures Wood Buffalo serves businesses in:
- Anzac
- Conklin
- Draper
- Fort Chipewyan
- Fort Fitzgerald
- Fort McKay
- Fort McMurray
- Janvier
- Saprae Creek
Community Futures Wood Buffalo brings growth for businesses in Northern Alberta community (length: 2:24)
Transcript: Community Futures Wood Buffalo brings growth for businesses in Northern Alberta community
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Video opens to a three people in a meeting.
Text on screen: Fort McMurray, Alberta.
PAMELA RAMRUP, Executive Director, Community Futures Wood Buffalo: Community Futures Wood Buffalo disrupts change, and we provide services to support small businesses in our community in addition to financing.
Video transitions to clips of three men working at computers in an office.
The Business Support Program allows Community Futures Wood Buffalo to work hand in hand with a local area business through a series of questions that enables us to understand what their needs are. We pair them with a professional services provider, such as an accountant, a media expert, an HR expert, or whatever they may need.
Video transitions to Pamela Ramrup, seated in an office.
We pair them with a professional services provider, such as an accountant, a media expert, an HR expert, or whatever they may need.
Video transitions to Community Futures Wood Buffalo staff working in the office.
Prior to us being here, there wasn't a venue for people to go to that would support them in the development and creation of their business plan.
Video transitions to an auto body shop.
So this program has been instrumental in saving businesses.
Video transitions to John Soles, Owner and Manager of Fix Auto Fort McMurray, seated in the auto body shop.
JOHN SOLES: Being a business owner during the pandemic was strange. One day we were busy, the shop was full. The next day people wanted their vehicles back because they didn’t know when they would be able to pick them up.
Video transitions to John Soles working in an office, reviewing paperwork.
Where I didn't know was how I was going to operate through some of the circumstances that was going on. But after the program, they helped me and I knew how to deal with certain things.
Video transitions to a staff preparing a vehicle to be painted.
PAMELA RAMRUP: The support provided by PrairiesCan for the Business Support Program, has allowed over 250 jobs to be saved, and 40 local area businesses to remain open.
Video transitions to clips of staff working on customer vehicles in the Fix Auto shop.
JOHN SOLES: As a small business owner, it was a huge relief and they helped me all the way. With my staff, with all the questions I had, and they were able to customize it to my needs.
Video transitions to Pamela Ramrup, seated in an office.
PAMELA RAMRUP: We're one ecosystem, we all rely on each other, and having this kind of program makes this region a stronger healthier place. Because we're employing people and because we're really helping businesses grow to continue to be successful.
Text on screen: PrairiesCan committed $549,583 to Community Futures Wood Buffalo to develop and deliver the Business Support Program to businesses impacted by COVID-19 in the Fort McMurray region.
PrairiesCan website: prairiescan.gc.ca
PrairiesCan Twitter: @PrairiesCanEN
Prairies Economic Development Canada Wordmark appears on screen.
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