Applications for the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) are open.

We are continuing to help ease financial pressure on small and medium-sized businesses due to COVID-
19. If you operate a local business or non-profit organization, you may be eligible for a loan of up to
$60,000.

If you haven’t been able to qualify for other federal business support programs – we are here to help.

The Alberta government is temporarily expanding eligibility to the Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) to help businesses access the training they need.

The expansion is effective until February 28, 2022. Expanded eligibility includes:

1. Funding mandatory training. Use the CAJG to fund courses or training that is required for a job.

2. Allowing employers to train employed family members. Enables family-owned businesses to access training funds.

3 Allowing some business owners to receive funding to train themselves. Supports entrepreneurs to expand their skill set to grow or pivot their business.

The partnership of Community Futures Alberta Southwest, Alberta Southwest Regional Economic Development Alliance (Alberta SouthWest) and Community Futures Crowsnest Pass, has launched a new online presence, www.InvestSouthwestAlberta.com.

The website’s purpose is to serve as a gateway and a catalyst to regional business investment.  The initiative is the second phase of a program which began in 2014 entitled “Bringing Investment Home” which has engaged and received input and support from all 16 municipalities which make up Alberta SouthWest region.

InvestSouthwestAlberta.com is one of several tools that function to build capacity in the region, to diversify the economy, attract investment and expand business opportunities.  The region’s three leading industry sectors, Agriculture, Renewable & Alternative Energy and Tourism, and the growth opportunities that lie within them, are highlighted on the website.

“Bringing Investment Home” a partnership project between Community Futures Alberta Southwest, Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance, and Community Futures Crowsnest Pass, received award-winning recognition at the Business Retention and Expansion International (BREI) conference held in Bridgewater Nova Scotia on June 24-26, 2015.

The Alberta SouthWest partnership received one of two awards presented at the conference that recognized project excellence and community impact. The city of Wellington Ontario won for a BREI project for a population of over 50,000 and the Alberta Southwest partnership won for a project with population under 50,000. Natalie Gibson, President of InnoVisions and Associates, who worked with the southwest Alberta communities, travelled to Nova Scotia to make a presentation about the Alberta project and to accept the award on behalf of the partnership.

April 9, 2015

Economic Developers Association of Alberta (EDA) Conference, Kananaskis, Alberta

A partnership between, Alberta Southwest Regional Alliance, Community Futures Alberta Southwest and Community Futures Crowsnest Pass was recognized twice by EDA for their 2014 “Bringing Investment Home” project in the category of Business Investment and Attraction.  InnoVisions and Associates worked with the community partners to achieve the excellent results.

We’ll help you find the small business information you’re actually looking for. Receive answers to your small business questions within one business day by contacting a Business
Advisor at The Business Link, online at smallbusiness.alberta.ca or toll-free at 1-844-422-7705.

The Alberta government is temporarily expanding eligibility to the Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) to help businesses access the training they need.

The expansion is effective until February 28, 2022. Expanded eligibility includes:

1. Funding mandatory training. Use the CAJG to fund courses or training that is required for a job.

2. Allowing employers to train employed family members. Enables family-owned businesses to access training funds.

3. Allowing some business owners to receive funding to train themselves. Supports entrepreneurs to expand their skill set to grow or pivot their business.

Rob Vogt

Special to The Macleod Gazette

May 28, 2014

Small businesses can receive assistance in a variety of ways from Community Futures Alberta Southwest (CFABSW).  The MD of Willow Creek learned more about [the organization and its programs] when Community Futures Alberta Southwest General Manager Tony Walker appeared as a delegation to the MD of Willow Creek Council meeting.

Community Futures is a federally-funded program started in 1992 as the Southwest Alberta Business Development Institute.  It changed its name to Community Futures Alberta Southwest in 2007.

Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance (Alberta Southwest), Community Future Alberta Southwest’s provincial counterpart, is launching a new regional economic development initiative titled “SouthWest Invest”.  CFABSW has been invited to participate in the initiative.  The following excerpt from the Claresholm Local Press describes programs key components.

By: Rob Vogt - Claresholm Local Press, October 23, 2014

Claresholm town council has endorsed an application for a three-pronged economic development program in the region....A resolution [passed by council Oct. 15^th authorizes] the Town of Claresholm to participate in an application for the “SouthWest Invest” project, submitted by the Town of Pincher Creek under the provincial government’s regional collaboration program....The application...has three parts.

Wi-Fi expansion and broadband issues identification

• Build capacity and expand effectiveness of the current wifi wireless Internet network in the region;
• Research and assess broadband realities and issues, costs and benefits to gain a realistic view and strategy to provide services.