Community Futures Cedar Lake Region launched the 2023 Business Needs Assessment Survey in April. The purpose of the survey was to reach out to as many businesses and organizations in the Tri-Community as possible. We wanted to assess the business climate of the area by identifying and examining current issues facing businesses. With the results from the survey, we hope to build and strengthen relationships with our businesses and community organizations, to support them in their growth and to identify ways to improve the business climate in the community.

“We want to examine what is positive and what challenges the business community is facing,” explains Joe Cote, CF Cedar Lake’s General Manager. “Our hope is that by working in partnership with community organizations and businesses, we will be able to develop an action based strategic plan for community development in terms of job retention, job creation, business creation and succession planning.”

“We sat down and took a look at what CF Cedar Lake has accomplished in its 26 years in the community,” continues Cote. “And to be honest, the numbers surprised us!”

In terms of business development, in 26 years, CF Cedar Lake has approved 344 loans in the Cedar Lake region, (267 in the Tri-Community and 77 in the rest of their service area). This translates to over $5.7 million in loans for the Tri-Community, and over $1.7 million for the rest of the region. We have helped create and/or maintain 1385 jobs (1100 local and 285 in the service area). When you include the dollars leveraged in the communities, you can add in over $3 million dollars that businesses have themselves invested. Putting all of this together, that’s over $10.6 million dollars invested in our communities.

CF Cedar Lake does more than business loans. We are members of regional groups who have a common goal to develop the North. We provide support and advice to potential, new and existing business in terms of planning and helping them explore financial opportunities. We have also invested in our communities in terms of grants and sponsorships. In terms of dollars, we invested over $212,000 in our communities, which, when you factor in the dollars leveraged, works out to over $1.3 million dollars.

Our big project over the last two years, was the “Investing in Our Futures” grant. Due to available funds at the time, we were able to provide eligible community organizations with grants of up to $5000 for their projects. We helped to fund the new stairs and wheelchair ramp at The Pas & Area Animal Shelter, the “Welcome to The Pas” sign on the south side of town (with the one on the north side to go up soon), and helped fund the new pump house at Ralls Island Park, to name just a few of the projects. Between January 2022 and November 2022, we provided almost $142 thousand in grant money to 33 projects in our region.

In terms of sponsorships, we are a strong supporter of the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival, both in terms of funding and our time. Both Joe Cote and Sandra Shapiro have worked on the creation and construction of the Ice Capp for the last two years, and Sandra runs the Labatt/Wescana Ice Bar during the Festival. We provided the funds necessary for the purchase of new binoculars for the new viewing platform at the Opasquia Trails Boardwalk, and are looking forward to attending their official grand opening.

In addition to the above, we have organized various workshops in our communities, whether on our own or in partnership with other Community Futures offices. We have offered Food Handler Safety certificate courses, introductions to bookkeeping and cash management, a business succession seminar. In November 2022, we partnered with CF North Central and NACCA, and offered an Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneur Program. The program was well attended and, as a highlight, the 22 women who participated in the program, received Chromebooks as a gift and a tool to use in their businesses!

CF Cedar lake is extremely excited for the completion of the 2023 Business Needs Assessment survey. We look forward to working with our partners to develop and operationalize plans that will benefit our communities.

To participate in the 2023 Business Needs Assessment survey, please contact

Sandra Shapiro

Development Officer, CF Cedar Lake

204-624-5452

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.cedarlakecfdc.com

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