Chamber_ResourceGuide_ThompsonOkanagan_August9_2021

SECTION 04 | WORKFORCE, WORKSPACE STRATEGY ESSENTIALS
Indigenous Resources
supports. MNBC performs an economic development function and also offers
employment and training supports. They can be reached at 778-349-7216. You can
also connect directly with any of the four local Métis organizations in the North Coast
| Nechako Region. For financial and other business-related services, you can also
contact the Métis Financial Corporation of BC.
- Indigenous businesses requiring technology related assistance can reach out to the
First Nations Technology Council.
- Indigenous women-led businesses can reach out to the Indigenous Women’s
Business Network for various supports. The Women’s Enterprise Centre offers
supports to individual women-led businesses and provides a list of additional supports
available through other agencies.
- The National Aboriginal Capital Corporation also has an Indigenous Women’s
Entrepreneurship program.
- Tourism-related inquiries can be directed to the Indigenous Tourism Association of
BC who can also provide an up-to-date list of available funding and business supports.
There are five local Native Friendship Centres in the Thompson | Okanagan Region:
Conayt Friendship Society in Merritt, First Nations Friendship Centre in Vernon,
Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society, Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society in Kelowna,
and OoknaKane Friendship Centre in Penticton, and you are also welcome to reach
out to the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centre’s to see the programs and
services which you may be able to access.
Export
Development
Canada offers
Indigenous
business services
Indigenous businesses looking to pivot and/or expand their offerings should review the
Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB). Through the PSAB, the federal
government has mandated that 3% of all federal government procurement will be
set aside for Indigenous businesses, and this amount is likely increasing to 5% soon.
Further, if you may be able to expand your offerings internationally, Export Development
Canada offers services to assist Indigenous businesses to explore this option.
The Small Business BC website has an up-to-date list of resources offered to
Indigenous businesses as well as general COVID-19 supports for Indigenous
individuals and communities.
The Indigenous Business and Investment Council has a list of Indigenous-specific
business supports and resources. The Indigenous Medical Suppliers Co-op has a list
of Indigenous businesses that have organized and/or retooled to supply PPE to the
marketplace as well as a list of COVID-19 supports available to Indigenous businesses.
The Indigenous Business Survey from the Canadian Centre for Aboriginal Business
(CCAB) demonstrates how Indigenous-owned businesses were among the hardest hit
by COVID-19.
A THOMPSON | OKANAGAN RESOURCE GUIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESS RESILIENCY | Copyright © 2021 – BC Chamber of Commerce
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