July 31, 2012
In order to be successful, new businesses require a few things: an idea – new and fresh; money – enough to get started; and advice – from someone trustworthy. Accessing these can sometimes be a challenge.
The Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation (LOWBIC) has realized the potential of new businesses in the Kenora area. Along with the providing loans to local businesses, a website has been created so entrepreneurs can access all of the information they need, from the comfort of their own home.
The new website was recently recognized with an Award of Excellence in Business Support Services at the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporation’s Annual Conference, held this year in Sault Ste. Marie. LOWBIC was given the prestigious award for the implementation and the success of the website. The award winners are selected based on how innovative the initiative is, how it impacts the community and local economy, and whether the concept can be successfully used by another Community Futures Development Corporation in a different region.
About the specialized website, LOWBIC’s Executive Director Ryan Reynard says, “We wanted to create a user-friendly environment. Some place that’s going to provide appropriate information to help get people who are looking to start a business or make changes to their existing business the right information and fairly easy for them to access.”
The new website has accomplished three main objectives: first, it has created a valuable source of information and tools for small businesses that is incredibly user-friendly; secondly, entrepreneurship is being encouraged through the use of this website; and finally, the website has given LOWBIC a useful marketing and promotion tool.
The website has been a real hit with the clients and even with some non-clients of LOWBIC. All of the feedback has been positive, with users saying the site is easy to use to locate the materials they need.
The website also provides the publications and media releases of LOWBIC, including their newsletter, by popular demand. The project has been completed for less than a year and there are approximately 450 user visits per month.
According to Executive Director Ryan Reynard, this is just the beginning: “We’ve got future goals of continuing to understand what our clients’ needs are and take that feedback and make adjustments to the website as appropriate. We always want to be relevant and we want to provide interesting and current information for our clients. And, again, we really want to help diversify our local economy and encourage people to get out there and take their shot at starting their dream business.”
“We are pleased to honour LOWBIC for their work in developing this website. It demonstrates their good service to their clients, making information available and user-friendly,” says Diana Jedig, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations.
There are 61 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) across rural and Northern Ontario. They offer free business counselling, loans for start-up and expansion of small business, strategic planning on local projects, and community economic development. Each CFDC is locally managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program through FedNor in Northern Ontario, and by FedDev Ontario in Southern Ontario. To learn more about CFDCs in Ontario or the OACFDC, go to www.oacfdc.com
Photo: Sponsor Sharon Wilson presents the trophy to Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation’s Executive Director Ryan Reynard and Communication Intern Jon Johnson, with OACFDC President Judy Nafziger offering congratulations
