Community Economic Development (CED) is action taken locally by a community to provide economic opportunities and improve social conditions in a sustainable way.
We at Community Futures offer the following services:
- Project Resources & Path Finding
- Video Conferencing & High Tech Facility Rental
- Management Excellence Programs
- Government Program & Regulation Assistance
- Rural Economic Diversification
1. Project Resources & Path finding
Do you have a great idea for your community but don't know where to start> Let our business analysts help you with our resources and advisory services.
Questions to ask are: What do you need? Are you looking for a grant or non-repayable contribution only? Do you have a good community idea that will pay for itself over time? Do you want to start a new organization or develop a new project in partnership with a service group you already belong to?
Usually we recommend you start off with a two to four page summary of your project or idea. Keep it clear and easy to understand. A cash flow would be appropriate to include at this time. Our Analysts can point you in the directions of known resources and how best to search for sources of funding that you might not be aware of.
Remember
- Community Projects take work
- Community Projects need to be good value to the community
- You will need to contribute
- Vary rarely will you find one source of funding for your project
- You need community support in writing
2. Video Conferencing & High Tech Facility Rental
Are you in Terrace for the day, or is your organization based here? Do you need the use of a boardroom for up to 15 people? How about a high tech Video Conferencing system? High speed internet with a color printer and digital camera?
Community Futures knows that technology and innovation are essential to global business today. The same is true for our local non-profits and social enterprises. Why do it the old fashioned way when we have the technology for you.
Community Futures has had some great success with focus group facilitation. Do you need someone to guide the discussion? Do you need someone to help you with the business side of your project? Get a focus group together and book our boardroom today.
Remember
- Rental rates for Video conferencing start at $100/hr (Discount rates available)
- You can participate in courses through Video Conferencing
- We have an excellent resource library
- Absolutely disability accessible
- Friendly knowledgeable staff to assist you
3. Management Excellence Programs
We have all heard about Volunteer burn out. Sometimes in small communities there just aren't enough people to promote a project or organization. On a fee for service basis we can assist you and your organization with board development.
Does your community organization have hired staff? Do you need Human Resource Mangement assistance? Community Futures across Canada are involved in projects promoting management excellence. If you need help with your human resources let our knowledgeable staff assist.
Does your community need leaders? Are you frustrated because the youth of today can't communicate with the old guard? Check out some of the various pilot projects that Community Futures organizations across the country have been involved with to promote communication and leadership.
Remember
- Communities need to communicate
- The way people communicate changes with time
- Organizations need to be innovative and open to new members
- Its good to have many points of view
- Odds are there is someone else working on a similar project somewhere
4. Government Programs & Regulation Assistance
Do you have a government question but don't know who to ask? Are you unsure of what level of government deals with your project or are there overlaps?
Check out some of our organizational charts below for assistance or come into the office and speak to a business analyst in person.
Many projects involve different levels of government. Are you dealing with Crown Land? Are you aware of which ministry has responsibility for food safety on or off reserve? Do you need a business license for your social enterprise or can you even get one?
We at Community Futures want to help make your project easier to start, easier to review and have as much community benefit as possible. We understand that the amount of information available today can be overwhelming.
We won't write the project for you, but we can help you navigate through the various levels of government regulation and assistance.
Remember
- All Governments have organizational procedures
- Don't get political before your idea is viable
- Community Futures supports the mobile business license project
5. Rural Economic Development
Community Futures understands and recognizes the strength of a diversified economy. We work to establish new business concepts, value added products and innovative use of technology.
In the past many communities have been negatively affected by the closure of a main industry or company. By supporting diversified economicaly viable communities in Canada we are all working to create greater prosperity for the nation.
We work with a variety of partners including the BC Rural Network to support rural diversification. If you have a great idea to diversify your economy we invite you to speak to one of our Business Analysts about viability.
Remember
- Diversified economies are stronger
- Every industry has cycles of growth and decline
- We have technology tools to help you
- We can provide loans to non-profit organizations
- Just because it hasn't been tried doesn't mean it can't be done
