ABOUT US

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Community Futures Strathcona

OUR PURPOSE

We spark business opportunities, one entrepreneur at a time.

OUR VISION

We grow local businesses that employ people who shape our unique communities.

OUR MISSION

We invest in small local businesses, and support owners without access to traditional financing.

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A community has challenges. These include supplying safe streets and schools, affordable housing, access to clean air and water, and opportunities to build wealth.

The solution to these challenges is often referred to as Community Economic Development; a model that mixes social, economic, and environmental goals. It is shaped by those who live, work, run businesses, and provide public services within the community.

For Community Futures Strathcona, we work within the Community Economic Development model by focusing on two primary economic functions. To support local ownership of business and to provide business with accessible credit.

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Community Development Model

Community Development consists of Economic Functions and Social Functions working together. One organization cannot meet all the needs of these two functions on its own. Community Futures Strathcona’s role is to focus on Accessible Credit and Local Ownership as part of the community development process.

Economic

Functions

Social

Functions

Equity, & Local Ownership

Local ownership of small business matters. They help to beautify streets, support local initiatives, and create events that enrich lives. They also create employment, pay livable wages, and contribute to the uniqueness of our communities. We believe local ownership of small business is not to be doubted for the contributions and benefits they make to our way of life.

Accessible Credit

Access to credit is the lifeblood of small business. To run a business without money becomes a difficult task. Yet, financing for small business is scarce because you are too new, too small, too rural, and simply do not fit traditional lending conditions. Our role is to fill this gap. To lend to those businesses marginalized from traditional support; including start-ups, and businesses owned by persons with a disability, female, Indigenous, and youth.

We believe local ownership of business creates jobs and spurs economic stimulus. We also believe that local business makes our communities unique, they donate to nonprofit causes, they invest in the community, provide better service, and typically have less impact on the environment.

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As well, because the owners live and work in the community, they have a strong interest in the social functions of Community Economic Development and take part in finding community solutions.

The Community Futures Program began through a federal government initiative that was designed in 1985 to lessen the economic disadvantages in rural Canada. The program has evolved through government ministry changes and in 2022, responsibility for the program in British Columbia belongs to Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan). PacifiCan focuses on evolving the economy of BC and supports Community Futures Strathcona with financial and advisory support to help PacifiCan with its aims.

CF lending is making a difference!

CF Assisted Firms

Non-Assisted Firms

7.5

%

2.6

%
Employment Growth Rate

Annual compounded: 2010-2015

8.9

%

4.4

%
Sales growth rate

Annual compounded: 2010-2015

68

%

46

%
Business Longevity Rate

5 Year Survival Rate

As you can see, the results of the program are remarkable. Businesses that receive Community Futures support show longer survivability, greater sales growth, and greater payroll growth. This is great for the community and great for increasing tax revenue to the government. Tax revenue that offsets the cost of the Community Futures Program.

So how do we obtain these results? Simply by supplying access to flexible loans for individuals and business that do not qualify at a bank or credit union. And, in many cases, these businesses are owned by underrepresented groups such as youth, Indigenous, people with disabilities, and female.

Testimonials

I cannot say enough about what Community Futures means to me. Their support has allowed me, as a single mother, to bring my dreams to fruition and build a successful business in our community. Without them, I would not be where I am today. The staff at Community Futures have been extremely supportive. They have an outstanding team of professionals that I am so grateful to have on my side. It is not only financial support that they provide – it is a team of people that are really rooting for you to succeed and that means the world. The business counselling and advice that I received was insightful and greatly appreciated. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart to everyone at Community Futures

Sage Aesthetics

I wouldn’t be in business without Community Futures Strathcona’s guidance and financial aid. They were very supportive, a wealth of knowledge, providing astute observations and recommendations. Answered all my questions in a timely professional manner, they were an inspiration, motivating me to continue their fine example of small business practices. Gave me the confidence to step forward and claim my dreams. Thank-you!

Misko Djs Top Quality Music

Thank-you Community Futures. We very much enjoyed working with you as you made the process easy and calm in what can be a strenuous time. We definitely feel that you are a partner as you are genuinely interested in our success.

Courtenay Motorsports

When first starting my small retail/interior design business, I approached 3 different banking institutions to acquire start-up financing for my project. Even though my credit was impeccable and I had savings of 30% to put towards the business, I was met with “no chance”, “not likely”, and “we can give you 20% of what you are looking for”. My accountant recommended I speak with Community Futures Strathcona to see if we could work together. I had several meetings where we worked through the details of what I was looking for, specifics of my business (from vision to operations), and with that information they put together a spreadsheet of financial projections which I still use today. They were kind, courteous, and as excited about my project as I was. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for financial aid to see their dreams come true! Mine certainly has thanks to them!

Modlux Interiors

Giving people a voice in their future and providing an opportunity helps to realize full potential.

Our support is such a small part to your success, but, we recognize capital is the lifeblood of small business. Without adequate financing a business cannot start or grow. Yet access to capital for small business is scarce. We want to bridge that gap to help businesses with the financing they need.

Our goal for the future is to build a healthy community and we believe investing in local small business brings the goal within reach. The community is better when we have successful local businesses and that is why we treat business better. If you agree, we ask that you support local small business when you can. They are a key part of Community Economic Development and deserve respect for the risk, time, and energy they take to build our communities.

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