Month: January 2020

WESK Teams up with Creative Saskatchewan to Offer Business Planning for Creative Industries

Jan 23, 2020

WESK Announcements & News Releases

This blog post was originally published by Creative Saskatchewan.

Creative Saskatchewan recently sponsored a Business Plan Basics workshop delivered by Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK), specially adapted to address the needs of the creative industries.

More than a dozen creative industry entrepreneurs learned the need-to-knows of marketing, research and financials, and how to build the perfect business plan. One of those participants was Adreanna Boucher from Off the Cuff Improv in Prince Albert.

“My improv business has been operating since 2013 and I was on the right track, but there was a lot more I knew I needed to do,” said Boucher. “The workshop helped me begin to create a map of my business, identify my target demographic, and compare myself to my competition. That’s given me a well-rounded idea of where I can grow my business and what direction I should take it in.”

Creative Saskatchewan’s sponsorship allowed creative entrepreneurs to participate in the workshop free of charge.

“Creative Saskatchewan’s grant programs require applicants to have sound business and marketing plans and detailed budgets,” said Erin Dean, Director of Programs and Investments at Creative Saskatchewan. “WESK’s Business Plan Basics workshop is a great resource for any emerging entrepreneur who is planning to apply to our grant programs.”

This blog post was originally published by Creative Saskatchewan. Source: https://www.creativesask.ca/post/women-entrepreneurs-business-plan-workshop

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Applications open – up to $100,000 available for local social purpose organizations to grow their positive impact in Saskatchewan

Jan 9, 2020

External Information

For Immediate Release

January 9, 2020

Regina, SK –  Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) is proud to be part of the Saskatchewan Consortium of organizations working to do good for our community. Eligible social purpose organizations are able to access up to $100,000 in non-repayable capital through the Investment Readiness Program. This is part of a national initiative led by Community Foundations of Canada and funded by the Government of Canada as a first stage towards its $800 million commitment to fund social innovation and social finance across Canada.

The first stage, called the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) is open to a diverse range of social purpose organizations and businesses including charities, non-profits,co-ops and for-profit social enterprises. The program provides opportunities to support more innovative, sustainable and inclusive approaches to pressing social challenges in communities across Saskatchewan. IRP provides a boost to new or established social enterprises, so they can scale up and get ready to accept investments. It invites community-led solutions to persistent social, cultural and environmental challenges. The program can provide $10,000 to $100,000 in non-repayable capital to design, plan, measure, and scale social enterprises in order to get ready to accept investment.

 “We are excited to be a part of this Consortium of organizations that includes 3 other Community Foundations: Saskatoon, Battlefords & District, and Prince Albert. The Consortium also has several other provincial and local based organizations who want to support social purpose organizations that have innovative ideas and want to make a difference right here in Saskatchewan,” says Donna Ziegler, Executive Director for the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation. “We are truly appreciative of the confidence the Government of Canada has provided to our national body, Community Foundations of Canada and the many Community Foundations across Canada, to deliver this program.”

The Investment Readiness Program will help social enterprises across Canada grow, and build their capacity to accept investment and participate in Canada’s growing social finance market.

 “This is an exciting opportunity to take our social enterprise to the next level of its development.  Through this type of innovation, we are able to better support those facing food insecurity and create pathways to independent sustainability,” says John Bailey, CEO Regina Foodbank.

“Business isn’t just about the bottom line. It can be a source for good and a catalyst for social and environmental change in communities across Canada. We are honoured to support social enterprises across Canada in building a better world,” says Andrew Chunilall, CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, a national partner in the Investment Readiness Program.

Applications for the IRP should be submitted by February 10, 2020 through the program’s website https://cfc-fcc.smapply.ca/prog/the_investment_readiness_program_/ . Additional application periods will open in 2020.

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