Reaching further: A new $100M boost for the 520,000

entrepreneurs in rural and remote communities

Community Futures/SADC+CAE/CBDC and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) today announced a $100M initiative to reach more business owners living in rural and remote areas.

Leaders in their communities, rural entrepreneurs are an exceptionally active demographic, with an entrepreneurship rate standing at 17% in 2024, compared to 12% in urban areas.

The financing envelope created by this new initiative is expected to generate up to $250 million in GDP over five years.

With their respective business centres and offices throughout the country, Community Futures/SADC+CAE/CBDC and BDC have a complimentary footprint.

A federal program administered by regional development agencies and Canada Economic Development, Community Futures/SADC+CAE/CBDC operates 267 non-profit offices across Canada delivering small business loans,

tools, training and events. BDC supports entrepreneurs with financing, advisory services and capital from 109 business centres across Canada and online at bdc.ca.

BDC and Community Futures/SADC+CAE/CBDC are stepping up to help entrepreneurs in rural and remote communities—who are vital contributors to Canada’s economy—have the resources they need to thrive.

ENTREPRENEURS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM (EDP)

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) offers business services to people with disabilities or health conditions interested in starting a business in rural Manitoba.  
This program is open to anyone with a viable business idea who has a disability or a health condition.
Check out this link for more information

LOCAL INITIATIVES PROGRAM (LIP)

The Local Initiatives Program provides non-repayable grants of up to $3,000 to support small-scale, innovative projects led by non-profit organizations and municipalities.

The purpose of the Local Initiatives Program is to strengthen our communities by supporting small scale- projects led by non-profit organizations and municipalities,

that strive to enhance community economic development efforts. 

Criteria for this intake are programs or projects that have a social, environmental, and/or cultural mandate.

Funding is limited and competitive. Approved organizations must meet reporting requirements to remain eligible for future funding.

Application Deadline: March 2, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

For more information visit: https://cfmanitoba.ca/westman-loans-advice/westman-grants

 VISIONARY FUTURES ENTREPRENEUR CONFERENCE

 In October we held the first Visionary Futures Entrepreneur Conference at the Keystone Center in Brandon. To make the conference possible, we had 10 sponsors that supported the event.

In the entrance to the conference we had booths for our diamond and platinum sponsors. They were able to interact with the attendees, give advice, and distribute merchandise.

The remainder of the room was set with round tables. The main room was the MNP Hall and then there were 2 other rooms used for breakouts.

The event ran from 9:00am to 5:00pm with several coffee breaks and lunch was also provided.

The day started out with hearing from our CEO Bill Hogan and our Diamond sponsor Fusion Credit Union. We were fortunate to be able to have for our

keynote speaker, Tareq Hadhad, the Founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate.

He was very inspirational and it was great to have the opportunity to hear him speak. Following the keynote, attendees were invited to participate in breakout rooms.

There were a total of 11 breakout rooms on a broad range of topics covering everything from Marketing to Bookkeeping.

The focus was to have topics for entrepreneurs that are at any stage in their entrepreneurial journey.

Many wonderful professionals in the industry presented in each of the breakout rooms. We had speakers like Jolean Watson, Curbridge Consulting, MNP, North Forge, and CRA, to just name a few.

The conference was attended by close to 100 people and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many asking about us doing it again next year.

MEET RICHARD ADU

MARKETING COORDINATOR FOR COMMUNITY FUTURES WESTMAN

Richard Adu is a dynamic and results-driven development professional with a strong interdisciplinary background in rural and business development,

agricultural economics, as well as finance. He completed his Master of Arts in Rural Development at Brandon University, where he served as a Research Assistant at the Rural Development Institute (RDI).

Richard currently serves as the Marketing Coordinator at Community Futures Westman, where he leads marketing and outreach initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, local business growth

and newcomer integration in the Westman region. He also coordinates the marketing and promotion of the Lending Circles Program,

a community-based financial initiative that helps underserved groups build credit and access capital through peer-to-peer lending.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana.

He also earned a Certificate in Open Data Management in Agriculture and Nutrition from GODAN Action, funded by the UK Department for International Development.

Throughout his academic and professional journey, Richard has demonstrated strong leadership and community engagement.

He served as Graduate Students Director at the Brandon University Students’ Union.

His prior leadership roles include President of the National Service Personnel Association (Oforikrom Municipality, Ghana), Programs and Projects Coordinator for the National Union of Ghana Students (KNUST),

and Vice President of External Relations for the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS WORLD), representing the organization at international conferences in Europe and Africa.

He is an alumnus of the Africa German Entrepreneurship Academy (AGEA) in Leipzig, Germany and was named one of the Top 100 Leaders of Tomorrow

at the Global Biotech Revolution Summit in the United Kingdom.

Additionally, he earned a Certificate of Achievement from the African Presidential Leadership Program in Cairo, Egypt, under the auspices of the President of Egypt.

 His combined interests in agricultural policy, rural development, and entrepreneurship continue to shape his work as he explores new opportunities to empower rural communities in Canada and beyond.

MEET SHIRLYN KUNARATNAM

LENDING CIRCLES COORDINATOR

Shirlyn is a recent graduate of the Master of Arts in Rural Development program at Brandon University and has recently joined Community Futures Westman as a Consultant for the new initiative, the Lending Circle program.

The Lending Circle program is designed to support rural, Indigenous, and newcomer communities who are interested in starting or growing their businesses but face barriers in accessing formal loans

due to limited credit history, documentation challenges, and cultural factors. By joining as a member of Lending Circles, they can engage in formal and informal savings, access interest-free loans, and benefit from peer support.

With Shirlyn’s interests in community economic development, entrepreneurship, workforce development, immigration, and the development of localized data, she is particularly passionate about community-led initiatives,

where communities take an active role in leading and shaping their own programs.

Shirlyn also works as a researcher at the Rural Development Institute at Brandon university, conducting research related to immigration, entrepreneurship, climate adaptation, artificial intelligence,

rural governance, and community economic development.

Shirlyn brings over 13 years of experience as a community development practitioner, having worked with multiple non-profit organizations across Sri Lanka and Asia.

Her expertise includes community economic development, rural cooperatives, refugee resettlement, youth skills development, women empowerment and career development.

She is highly proficient in project design, monitoring and evaluation, as well as grant writing, with a strong track record of successfully securing funding. 

MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS

MARK CUSTANCE

Mark Custance is a rural entrepreneur and community-minded professional based in southwest Manitoba.

He brings experience working with local businesses, municipalities, and community organizations to support practical, sustainable economic development in rural communities.

With a background spanning technology, education, and project implementation, Mark is passionate about strengthening local capacity, supporting entrepreneurs, and

helping communities adapt and grow in a changing economic landscape. He values collaborative, locally driven solutions that build resilience and long-term opportunity.

Mark is pleased to serve on the Community Futures board and looks forward to contributing his skills and perspective in support of rural business growth and community development. 

SARAH FAST

Sarah Fast moved to Neepawa in 2016 after graduating from the University of Manitoba, Robson Hall Faculty of Law.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the Asper School of Business, majoring in Human Resources Management/Industrial Relations and Marketing. 

Her legal practice is solicitor focused, dealing with an array of Real Estate transactions, Wills & Estate Planning and Corporate work.

Her past volunteer experience includes being a member of the Regional Activities Committee for Métis Child and Family Services, volunteering at the YMCA,

providing job shadowing experience to high school students, coaching high school hockey, participating in charity hockey tournaments, acting as Secretary for the

Aboriginal Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business, participating in the Law Society of Manitoba’s Lawyers for Literacy events,

driving for Operation Red Nose and delivering Christmas hampers for the Christmas Cheer Board.

Currently, she is the President of the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation, actively involved with the Neepawa Rotary Club and is on the board of the

Whitemouth Child Care Centre, Neepawa Chamber of Commerce, and of course, the Community Futures Westman.

​On a personal level, She has played AA and Junior hockey and regional soccer. She enjoys travelling and reading. 

She is fluent in French.  She is married and has  a 1.5-year-old son and a 3.5-year-old daughter, and a 16-year-old dog.

SHEP KAASTRA

Shep Kaastra presently resides with his family on a small acreage near Wawanesa, which he has called home for many years. 

Education has always played an important role in our family, and at this time, we have two adult children, who are presently pursuing post- secondary opportunities. 

Shep went to school and grew up on a cattle farm near Rossburn, and later studied at the University of Manitoba. 

After graduation, Shep considers himself fortunate that his career and family life has been based in rural Manitoba.

 Shep’s career started in agriculture in a variety of financial roles which were often based in small Manitoba communities. 

He has held number of positions from agricultural loans officer to director of operations, when in 2006 he completed a career transition by completing the CMA accounting designation

and gaining further accounting experience by completing internal audit work for Maple Leaf Foods. 

He switched industries and became the Chief Financial Officer for Westman Communications Group in Brandon, a position in the broadband and technology field, which he held for twelve years. 

His most recent and current experience is based as a business instructor at Assiniboine Community College, realizing a passion for education for both his students and his own ongoing personal development.    

He is currently a member in good standing as a CPA with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba. 

Shep received his Master of Business Administration (MBA), majoring in Finance, at the University of Manitoba, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture (Economics). 

He was fortunate to update his education experience by the recently completed Schulich Mini-MBA (Essentials of Management) program from the Schulich School of Business, Executive Learning Centre.

 He brings strong fiscal management skills to the Board table including a wealth of experience in completing annual operating and capital budgets, financial reporting, forecasting and evaluation of key performance indicators.