Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot (CFAC)
4757 Tebo Avenue V9Y 8A9 Port Alberni, BC, Canada

New establishment will be opening up shortly, many thanks for the repeat red cedar business ! WE will be sure to visit soon and often, local harvest-local jobs-local brewery-more local jobs :).

Q&A with CRA about recovery benefits for businesses! Connect with the Chamber if you are interested in attending!

Great Facade Improvement!

Happy Birthday to US! Today is the first anniversary of the day we opened. What a gong show that was! And well, you know what a year 2020 has been. We will be o...pen today from 4:00-9:00pm. Come on down for three (3!) Special small batch beers: -Limesickle IPA -You got Peanut Butter in my Stout! -South Side Saison None of this would be possible without YOU our wonderful customers and friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for keeping us around to bring you tasty food and great beer to Uptown Port Alberni and across BC. And AND to top it all off, we are launching our new product, the "SAFE SIX" Craft Medley. If being out isn't your thing right now, you can try six of our easy drinking beers from the safety of your home. And don't worry, these mix packs will be available in liquor stores across the Island in a couple weeks! Cheers!

Happy Holidays from Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot! On behalf of all of us at CFAC, we want to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year! During the holiday office closure we are still available if you need us! Please message our page or email [email protected]!

Our 60 Community Futures offices across Ontario provide free business counselling and financial products to help you start or maintain your business. Find your local office here: https://cfontario.ca/find-cfdc-office-pf-en #TuesdayTips

Running your own business isn’t just a job - it’s a way of life! Ready to be your own boss? We are here to offer support, guidance, education and even financing.... Contact us today. https://bit.ly/36p85Z5 #CommunityFuturesBC #EntrepreneursWithDisabilities #BusinessDevelopment #BusinessSupport See more

We've had a lot of start up inquires so far this week! Here is a helpful checklist www.cfac.ca/checklist

You can now order online with pick up and delivery options across Canada!

The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy is open for applications. To determine your eligibility or to apply, visit https://bit.ly/3l2Vu19 #EntrepreneursWithDisabilities #CommunityFuturesBC #BusinessDevelopment #BusinessSupport

December Newsletter http://www.bluebeetlebooks.com//cf_alberni_/newsletter.php

Our elves have been working hard lately! Come on in and visit our winter wonderland of candy! #candyland #candy #candycane #hotchocolate #goatsofinstagram

Helping YOU start your own business

Mark your calendars....due to covid 19 our Annual Customer Appreciation event will be all next week Nov 16th to Nov 21st 6 days of savings! ... #customerappreciation #event #christmas2020 #holidayseason #shoplocal #savelocal #portalberni #uptown #stayconnected See more

BEST EXPERIENCE Despite this year’s changes, our wonderful team has been positive throughout and sincerely driven to bring joy to those that are able to stop in... for a visit. Our group priority has always been to form meaningful connections with people through beer and food that we are passionate about in a spot that is both welcoming and relaxed. If you’ve had a positive experience at Twin City Brewing we encourage you to drop a vote for the BC Ale Trail’s Best Brewery Experience. Follow the link in the comments, and click Start at the bottom of the page. #twincitybrewing #twincitybeer #beerforthepeople #localbeer #smallbatchbeer #bccraftbeer #vancouverislandbeer #portalberni

November Newsletter http://www.bluebeetlebooks.com//cf_alberni_/newsletter.php

Community Futures "loves to help business grow" #cityofpowellriver, #powellriverchamber, #prwomeninbusiness

Small business week!

Thinking about moving to Port Alberni? Doing business here? Investing in a big project? Get answers to your questions at the City of Port Alberni Local Government's latest attraction and investment website at www.chooseportalberni.ca.

The City of Port Alberni Local Government has launched the latest COVID-19 community survey and we need YOUR help! Visit chooseportalberni.ca/survey Fill out a short survey for a chance to win one of 30 gift cards to a local business.

We are excited to introduce our Project Coordinator for the #avpumpkinpickup! Meet Richard Huneault, a current student in the Market Gardeners Program through t...he Shelter Farm and North Island College. Richard has over ten years experience in sales and management and has been in Port Alberni for just over a year now. We are thrilled to have him on this project! if you are interested in -donating your unwanted pumpkin after Halloween - receiving processed pumpkins for your own consumption or restaurant use - have livestock that would enjoy a pumpkin dinner - getting involved and volunteering please email [email protected] #rescuethepumpkins #socialroot #foodsecurity #healthycommunities

Is your organization a not for profit, charity, impact business, co-op or social enterprise? Apply for Survive and Thrive! The program provides support to develop new financial or operational strategies over a 2-month road to recovery with in-depth webinars, individual coaching, and the opportunity to connect with peers. Share Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SurviveAndThriveApplication... --- Scale Collaborative, Community Futures Central Vancouver Island, Community Futures Cowichan, Community Futures Strathcona, Community Futures Mount Waddington, Community Futures Powell River, Community Futures Sunshine Coast, Coastal Community Credit Union, Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre, Regional District of Nanaimo, See more

The day has finally come, and what a day it has been! We are officially open and couldn’t be more excited to welcome you all. Our Bakeshop, Barista Bar and Kitc...hen are in full swing and ready to make your day a little brighter (and more delicious). We are offering dine-in service in our beautiful courtyard and welcoming takeout orders indoors. Our hours are 10 am-8 pm, no reservations required/first come-first serve. Lastly, we want to thank each and every one of you for your much much appreciated patience and look forward to seeing you all at Wildflower Bakeshop & Cafe !

37 Years in Business

New business with a new facade

Are you a small business owner considering your options for succession? Are you passionate about continuing the legacy of your business in your community? The B...usiness Legacies Initiative is exploring how owners can transition their businesses to non profit ownership as a succession plan. Learn more and share your thoughts in a short survey (10 mins or less) here: https://scalecollaborative.ca/businesslegacies/ @Scale Collaborative, @Royal Roads University, @Community Futures Cowichan, @Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot (CFAC), @Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin, @Community Futures Central Vancouver Island, @Venture Connect @Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (CCPL), @VantagePnt, @Small Business BC, @Legacy Leadership Lab - L3

Business update! Expanding into new services!

Small businesses are significant drivers of local economies through their contribution to job creation, innovation, and spending. Recent research estimates that... 72% of small businesses across Canada are at risk of closure over the next 5-10 years due to a lack of a succession plan and 14% are at immediate risk of closing due to COVID-19. At the same time, the non-profit sector in Canada is facing an increasingly challenging funding environment and complex needs in communities. In response, social enterprises allow non-profits to both generate revenue and achieve positive social impact. Currently, most non-profits start up their social enterprises with all the risks that a start-up brings. What if non-profits could leapfrog the early start-up pains and acquire a business instead? What are the pathways and conditions for success? The Business Legacies Initiative is exploring these questions, and we want to hear from you! Learn more and tell us what you think in this short survey (10 mins or less) here: http://bit.ly/business-legacies-initiative. @Scale Collaborative, @Royal Roads University, @Community Futures Cowichan, @Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot (CFAC), @Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin, @Community Futures Central Vancouver Island, @Venture Connect @Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (CCPL), @VantagePnt, @Small Business BC, @Legacy Leadership Lab - L3

What an amazing project our Arrowsmith Rotary Club took on. Building Relationships Brick by Brick. And I had the honour of stopping by this Sunday to see the action as it’s happening. Stay tuned for more in the next issue of the Valley Vibe.... Coming soon!

Read & click on the link & enjoy, our CFPR September electronic newsletter http://www.bluebeetlebooks.com//cf_powell_r/newsletter.php

Chances are you know a youth (or are one) aged 15-30 who has something to say, sing, write, or draw about the world as they (you) see it... I would love to hear what they (you) have to say! Don't know any youth? Know someone who does? Pass this on! ... Music teachers; teachers of all kinds; sports coaches; parents; youth with friends who are doing cool things in the community? Pass this on and connect that passion project to grant funding and mentorship to get the word out! Check out some of the projects through #RisingYouth and connect with me if you feel like chatting about your idea and would like some support to push it out to your community!! Let's discuss... [email protected] https://www.risingyouth.ca/ https://www.risingyouth.ca/stories https://www.risingyouth.ca/music

Sitting here on the patio of the restaurant on this calm and warm night. Everything is clean, put away and restocked for tomorrow. Taking a few minutes to refle...ct on the last few months since we reopened the business. The many new procedures and ways we work were daunting at first but are now ingrained in us. We have been fortunately busy with locals and visitors dining here. We are beyond grateful to the employees who have worked long and hard when we have been short staffed this whole time. We love what we do with all of the good things and the challenges we face daily. Strange times for all of us but we are doing okay. We are so lucky to have such an awesome team and fantastic customers. Thank you to everyone that has supported us since we reopened. Looking forward to another good day tomorrow! Cheers. See more

The LEAP Conference for Women in Business is all online, removing the barriers of travel and time away from family. We’ve put together a dynamic group of speakers and panelists to address important topics such as Leadership, Gender Bias, Building a Personal Network and Brand, Confident Negotiating, Women in Male Dominated Sectors, and Advocating for Women. The event will be hosted using the online platform Whova, which will allow participants to access sessions on their des...ktop or mobile device, build their personal profiles, network with other participants, plan virtual or in-person meetups, and access a virtual tradeshow. At only $49 for general admission, the price tag for this conference is a fraction of the costs of other conferences thanks to the support of Western Economic Diversification. For more information or to register, visit https://cfdc.bc.ca/leap-conference-for-women-in-business/ . See more

Non-profit leaders! If you are interested in diversifying your organization’s revenue streams by running a social enterprise, the Business Legacies Initiative wants to hear from you! We are exploring how non-profits can transition existing businesses to social enterprise. Learn more and tell us what you think in this short survey (10 mins or less) here: https://scalecollaborative.ca/businesslegacies/ --- Scale Collaborative, @Royal Roads University, @Community Futures Cowichan, @Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin, @Community Futures Central Vancouver Island, Venture Connect @Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (CCPL), @VantagePnt, @Small Business BC, @Legacy Leadership Lab - L3

Check out our new programs, starting in September

Is your non-profit organization interested in diversifying its revenue streams by running a social enterprise? The Business Legacies Initiative is exploring how non-profits can transition existing businesses to social enterprise. Learn more and tell us what you think through a short survey (10 mins or less) here: https://scalecollaborative.ca/businesslegacies/ ---... Scale Collaborative, Royal Roads University, Community Futures Cowichan, Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin, Community Futures Central Vancouver Island, Venture Connect, Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (CCPL), Vantage Point Small Business BC, Legacy Leadership Lab - L3 See more

Are you a non-profit interested in social enterprise? Or are you a small business owner wanting to leave a legacy in your community? The Business Legacies Initiative is exploring options to transition small businesses into social enterprises. We want to hear from both non-profit and small business leaders! Learn more about the initiative and take a 10 min (or less) survey. --- September Newsletter: http://www.bluebeetlebooks.com//cf_alberni_/newsletter.php

Business update below

If you haven’t done so already check out Santosha spa services: https://www.santoshaskincare.com/holistic-spa-services Great services and value!

Local businesses are the lifeblood of our local economies; they provide essential goods, services, and job opportunities to their communities. However, recent research estimates that 72% of business owners are looking to transition out of their business in the next 5-10 years; many of those businesses will be closing their doors for good with no succession plan in place. At the same time, non-profits are facing an increasingly difficult funding environment and are looking fo...r ways to diversify their revenue streams. Many are looking to start up a social enterprise, but starting a social enterprise can be challenging. What about acquiring an existing business and transitioning it into a social enterprise? The Business Legacies Initiative is exploring how to support transitioning existing businesses into non profit ownership. If you are a small business owner or a non-profit leader, we want to hear from you! Learn more and take a short survey (10 mins or less) here: https://scalecollaborative.ca/businesslegacies/ --- @Scale Collaborative, @Royal Roads University, @Community Futures Cowichan, @Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot (CFAC), @Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin, @Community Futures Central Vancouver Island, @Venture Connect @Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society (CCPL), @VantagePnt, @Small Business BC, @Legacy Leadership Lab - L3

Congratulations

Supporting #ShopLocal is about creating relationships, and building a connected and resilient community.

Well the time has finally come... I have achieved accreditation with the Professional Photographers of Canada For this process I had to submit 10 images to be j...udged by a panel of Master Photographers. All 10 images had to be accepted to demonstrate my ability and skill as a professional photographer, on top of that I had to knock the proverbial socks off the judges, and that was done without question. Thank you to everyone who have supported me, who have stood by me and encouraged me to continue my pursuit in continuing to live my dream as a full time Photographer. Of course thanks must go to the PPOC for all they do to further the careers of photographers in Canada. This is my first step in achieving my CPA (Craftsman of Photographic Arts), MPA (Masters) and further. As the only accredited photographer in the Alberni-Clayoquot Region and beyond (Parksville-Qualicum/Alberni/Tofino/Bamfield/Ucluelet) this is pretty high praise considering how many talented photographers we have in our area. This means a few changes to my business. Most notably I won't be offering to shoot weddings, maternity, or newborn images. For these I would highly recommend Tashia Potter of Tashia Potter Photography or Adrienne Oosterom at Sapphire Arts. Thank you again!

If you are thinking about buying a business visit https://ventureconnect.ca/services/buying-a-business and check out their business buyer services packages along with a variety of other services.

Supper local breweries!

If you are thinking about selling your business contact Venture Connect to help! Some packages outlined below.

Helpful work from home tips! 1. Get Dressed 2. Designate a Workspace or Home Office 3. Keep Clearly Defined Working Hours 4. Build Transitions Into (and Out of) Work... Read more: https://www.themuse.com/ad/coronavirus-work-from-home-tips See more

August Newsletter http://www.bluebeetlebooks.com//cf_alberni_/newsletter.php

Repost from @tankfiveagram Simple and and elegant, just like the distiller that makes this fine vodka. We love to see women excelling in the industry and hope... to see more of them. #distiller #distillery #womenempowerment #vodkatime #vodkalove #vodkanight #cocktail #bartender #mixology #vodkatonic #cocktails #drinks #vodkas #womendistillers See more

Have you been keeping up with your skin care practices during Covid? If not your should check out Santosha Skin & Body Therapy and if you have you should check out their products They recently added BeautyCounter to their product line which is all about clean ingredients and being gentle yet effective. If you are in need to make up Santosha Skin & Body Therapy carries Elate beauty products as well. Visit their facebook page or their new and improved website at www.santoshaskincare.com

Call our office or message our page to schedule an appointment with our advisor!

Use this workbook if you are purchasing a business! Visit: ventureconnect.ca/resources/workbooks-downloads

Did you know this business existed in our community? Wow! Talk about talent - Check out all their designed! https://www.gingerwear.ca/ ---- What business did you just discover in your community?

About Community Futures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ukgW1iCriE

Check out Export Navigator's new website! https://exportnavigator.ca/ Brady our Export Advisor is available to answer any export questions you may have

Great to run into Vince Payette on his first day of business as the Meares Island Water Taxi departing from the Crab Dock in Tofino. Vince is the former Harbour... Master and a great guy. He is donating a portion of water taxi fares to the Tribal Parks Initiative. Good luck, Vince for a successful summer! [email protected] See more

Happy Canada Day! July Newsletter http://www.bluebeetlebooks.com//cf_alberni_/newsletter.php

More information available at cfac.ca/loans

Another great draw to Port Alberni is our location, we tucked away enough to maintain our small town vibe yet close enough to take a drive to the beautiful west coast or head in the other direction and we are a hop skip and a jump to the mainland, making us a great place to relocate.

Are you a local youth with a big idea? We want to hear from you! CFAC has joined forces with RisingYouth North to tell you about grants available for youth-led projects to help make their community a better place to live. Now's the time to be the change you want to see! Contact us today - we'd love to hear your voice.