2019-2020 Annual Report

Community Futures Central Alberta is supported by:

Who We Are Community Futures Central Alberta is a community driven, non-profit organization staffed by business

professionals and guided by a volunteer Board of Directors. We provide a wide range of small business

services and business management tools for people wanting to start, expand, franchise or sell a business.

We also run a number of specialized business programs, organize exciting business events and actively

work with community and business leaders to foster rural economic growth.

Purpose We Empower Entrepreneurs in Every Way

Mission To be a recognized leader in entrepreneurship excellence by demonstrating, empowering and celebrating

small business.

Communities We Serve Alhambra, Bearberry, Benalto, Bergen, Betula, Bowden, Campaign, Caroline, Carstairs, Cline River, Condor,

Cremona, Crump, Dickson, Didsbury, Doan, Eckville, Elkton, Harmatton, Innisfail, James River Bridge, Leslieville,

Markerville, Nordegg, O’Chiese Band, Olds, Penhold, Pine Lake, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, Shawtz,

Spruce View, Stauffer, Sunchild First Nation, Sundre, Sylvan Lake, Water Valley, Wessex, Westward Ho.

Our Board Board Member Position Community Mr. Russell Crook Chair SV of Jarvis Bay

Mr. Dennis Cooper Vice Chair Penhold

Mrs. Sheena Johnson Secretary-Treasurer Red Deer

Mayor Mike Yargeau Director Penhold

Councilor Jason Alderson Director Rocky Mountain House

Mrs. Sheila Mizera Director Rocky Mountain House

Councilor Theresa Laing Director Clearwater County

Councilor Graham Parsons Director Sylvan Lake

Mrs Joyce McCoy Director Didsbury

General Manager’s Report

In 2019-2020 the focus of our Organization was on partnership development, economic development activity, loan

growth, and increasing supports for entrepreneurs in our region while maintaining the strategic direction set out by

our Board of Directors and the Government of Canada priorities.

Lending was slightly lower than the previous fiscal year due to the continued economic downturn in our region and

the Province of Alberta. For year ending March 31, 2020, CFCA provided funding to 11 small businesses, advancing

loans totalling $745,311. Our loans were advanced to various industry sectors including Construction, Manufacturing,

Retail Trade, Health and Safety, Communications, and Arts/Entertainment. These new loan advances assisted small

businesses in the communities of Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, Bowden, Penhold, and Sylvan Lake, and have

assisted in creating and/or maintaining a total of 29 full-time and part-time positions in these areas. We collaborate

and work in partnership with lending institutions in our Region to provide necessary capital to small businesses. We

have maintained strong lending partnerships with ATB, BDC, and our new banking service provider Servus Credit

Union. New loan inquiries, business plan development for start-up entrepreneurs, and client leads through the

Community Futures provincial website have been at an unprecedented high as innovative and eager new

entrepreneurs see new opportunities for business and diversification outside of the energy sector.

We continue to focus on supporting entrepreneurs in the Government of Canada priority areas by contributing

resources, support and funding to women entrepreneurs, youth entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, and the

Indigenous community.

Through the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program, CFCA assisted 14 new clients in our Region and provided access

to $28,068 in non-repayable EDP funds to assist with overcoming unique barriers to successful entrepreneurship. Our

office was the proud recipient of the 2019 Community Futures Alberta EDP advocacy Award for our great work in

supporting those with a disability and a dream for a business.

In this fiscal year, we advanced 4 loans to women led small businesses totalling $357,000. We have participated in

various Women Entrepreneur initiatives in our region, including speaking engagements with the WOW Women in

Business Central Alberta, the Sharp Event Women’s Conference, and the Women Leading Change event hosted by

BDC. CFCA successfully secured new project funding this year through the Government of Canada Women

Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) which is a $5 billion investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned

businesses by 2025. Through the WES Fund, we have received funding approval to create and implement an Indigenous

Women Entrepreneur Start Up Program out of Rocky Mountain House, called Maskawisîw, which is Cree for “Strong

Woman”.

CFCA supports development of Youth Entrepreneurs in our Region by participating on the planning committee and

sponsoring campers in the Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp, which has fostered entrepreneurship for

youths aged 13-15 for over 24 years. Our Youth Loan Program provided $350,000 in funding to assist young

entrepreneurs in 3 start-up youth businesses in our Region. We also assist with the Alberta Junior Achievement

Program by facilitating workshops to youth and partner with the City of Red Deer and Red Deer College’s Donald School

of Business in various presentations and entrepreneur workshops.

CFCA supports truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities through our partnership with the Red Deer

Native Friendship Center and have sponsored and participated for 2 consecutive years in the planning for the TALK

Conference in Red Deer.

We continually seek opportunities to offer support and assistance to emerging and technological industries to further

promote economic diversification in our Region. These partnerships include but are not limited to Central Alberta

We continually seek opportunities to offer support and assistance to emerging and technological industries to further

promote economic diversification in our Region. These partnerships include but are not limited to Central Alberta

Regional Innovation Network, Catapult Entrepreneurs Central Alberta, and Central Alberta Economic Partnership. We

proud of the strong collaborative partnerships and activities we’ve developed with Alberta Innovates, Olds College &

Red Deer College Centers for Innovation, and Central Alberta Access Prosperity.

Our training workshops and entrepreneur seminars have continued to evolve and grow this fiscal year as we have

expanded our offerings through partnerships with service providers. We offered a total of 57 training sessions and

workshops to 307 participants in the fiscal year, and provided valuable coaching, advice and mentorship to our clients

with a total of 150 face-to-face business advisory sessions. We continually seek collaboration opportunities with our

partner service providers and lending institutions in our Region to provide resources and increase capacity to

entrepreneurs.

We continually seek marketing opportunities to maintain visibility throughout the Region by participating in Chamber

of Commerce tradeshows and events, entrepreneur conferences, speaking engagements and information sessions

throughout the region. We are the primary sponsor/contributor to Small Business week publication in the Red Deer

Advocate.

I would like to thank the Community Futures Central Alberta staff – Kelsey Krieger, Jenn Tanaka and Nancy Bownes along with our Bookkeeper Debbie Romkes, and WES Project Manager Michelle Andrishak for their commitment and dedication to both the organization and the clients we serve. Their teamwork, energy and collaboration are the reason for our success. I would also like to thank each of our Board of Directors for their ongoing support, volunteer hours, and dedication to the Community Futures Program. This year we say goodbye to Dennis Cooper, who has served on our Board of Directors since 2011, and as Vice Chair since November 2018. I’d like to thank Dennis for his friendship and support over the years. On behalf of the staff and Board, we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I look forward to working with you all in this upcoming year as we continue to support and foster entrepreneurship and economic development in our communities through the Community Futures Program. Thank you. Kelly Kierluk General Manager Community Futures Central Alberta

2019-20 Highlights

The Community Futures Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

Program is designed to ensure ready access to

entrepreneurial support services to persons with

disabilities or on-going health conditions. In the 2019-20

fiscal year we had $28,068 approved in various supports

for 14 clients.

Loan Portfolio by Community For the Year Ending March 31, 2020

Bowden, $91,888.22,

4%

Carstairs, $127,580.24, 6%

Delburne, $2,836.71, 0%

Didsbury, $92,372.28, 4%

Eckville, $142,193.05, 6%

Innisfail, $35,504.52, 2%

Olds, $185,088.49, 8%

Penhold, $46,991.39, 2%

Red Deer, $1,281,054.75, 58%

Red Deer County, $49,227.92, 2%

Rocky Mtn House, $23,398.94, 1%

Sundre, $33,075.06, 2% Sylvan Lake, $117,863.33, 5%

Bowden Carstairs Delburne Didsbury Eckville

Innisfail Olds Penhold Red Deer Red Deer County

Rocky Mtn House Sundre Sylvan Lake

Community Based Projects

The Maskawisîw Women in Business Start -Up Program was designed to provide

guidance, expertise, and mentoring to the early start-up phase of businesses owned

by Indigenous Women ready to explore business ownership opportunities. We have

developed a unique delivery format of inspiration, education, and support to meet

the needs of Indigenous women. This project is in partnership with the Âsokêwin

Friendship Centre in Rocky Mountain House, AB.

RAYEC is a week-long camp that takes place

every August for youth ages 13- 15 who are interested in learning

about business and entrepreneurship. The main focus of this camp

is to educate youth about marketing, advertising, preparing a cash-

flow statement and writing a business plan. They also get to

participate in many fun recreational activities throughout their

week at camp.

Participating in JA transforms students and gives them the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in school, business and life. Our office delivers the Our Business World Program to Grade 5 classes as well as the Economics for Success program to Grade 9 students at school in our region.

This year we co-hosted the 2nd Annual TALK Conference in partnership with the

Red Deer Native Friendship Centre and the Lifelong Learning Council of Alberta.

The conference was intended to bring together all members of the community to

learn about the Indigenous way of life, learn traditional teachings, and hear from

guest speakers on a variety of topics all focused on the medicine wheel.

We partnered with several local organizations to bring

this unique and interactive one-day business plan event

to local entrepreneurs.

The EDGE Investment Forum is a unique platform that brought

investors and entrepreneurs together. This forum gave businesses

the change to present to Private Equity Funders, Venture Capitalists,

Angel group and independent investors.

We are pleased to have partnered and collaborated with the

following organizations:

2019-20 Performance Results

1Estimated at the time of lending

Community Futures Central Alberta Performance Results Results as of

2019-20

Strong rural community strategic planning and implementation

1. Total number of community-based projects (new & on-going) 63

2. Total number of local and regionally based community strategic plans developed

and/or updated 14

Rural access to business development services

3. Total number of business training session participants 307

4. Total number of business advisory services 150

Rural access to capital and leveraged capital

5. Dollar value of loans $745,311.35

6. Total number of loans 11

7. Number of jobs created/maintained/expanded through lending1 29