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For Release
August 10, 2005

Alberta Communities Connecting Through the Entrepreneurship Learning Centre

Edmonton, Alberta – Entrepreneurs and small business owners across Alberta are enjoying improved access to learning and information-sharing opportunities thanks to Western Economic Diversification Canada's investment in the Entrepreneurship Learning Centre (ELC). T he Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), made the $200,000 announcement today .

The ELC is a video conferencing network that links Alberta business service network sites such as Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs), Alberta Women Entrepreneurs and la Chambre économique de l'Alberta. The technical hub is situated in Edmonton at Alberta's primary Canada Business Service Centre (CBSC), The Business Link. The business service network sites are non-profit organizations that work in Alberta's communities to provide local entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to develop and grow their businesses.

"The Government of Canada is committed to building small business capacity and sustainable economic growth in the West. WD helps facilitate this through investments like the one we're making in the ELC," said Minister Owen. "By establishing the video conferencing network, we are connecting entrepreneurs in Alberta and facilitating the exchange of best practices and business ideas, which ultimately translates into more economically sustainable communities across the province."

Building on a successful pilot of seven sites also supported by WD, this investment will connect 16 more business service network sites to the ELC, bringing the total number of connected Alberta sites to 23. The sites also contributed funds to expand the reach of the ELC Network.

"The Entrepreneurship Learning Centre allows our Alberta CFDCs to serve their rural communities with increased effectiveness," said Jon Close, Executive Director for the Community Futures Network Society of Alberta. "The system saves time and cuts down on traveling, thereby enabling us to participate in province-wide meetings with our partners. We are very proud to be a part of this unique network."

"We are really excited about this new opportunity to work closely with our regional partners to extend our reach and enhance our services for Alberta's small business community," commented Rodger Cole, General Manager of The Business Link. "This is the first network of its kind in Canada."

The network will make it possible for entrepreneurs to attend meetings and seminars without leaving their home communities. By bridging the distance between Alberta's rural communities, the video conferencing technology will save time and money and will help strengthen relationships between the business service network sites.

Minister Owen also confirmed a commitment of $18.2 million in increased pan-western operating funding for Community Futures Development Corporations, as included in Budget 2005, at this video conference. Delivered over a five-year period, this funding will enable the 90 Western CFDCs to build capacity and continue their grassroots economic development work in the communities they serve.

Western Economic Diversification Canada's $200,000 investment supports the purchase and connection of the video conferencing equipment. Funding for this initiative was provided for in Budget 2005.

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Backgrounder

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)

• Western Economic Diversification Canada works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and diversify Western Canada's economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national economic policy.

• WD is announcing a $ 200,000 investment in the Entrepreneurship Learning Centre (ELC). The ELC is a video conferencing system that links Alberta-based members of Western Canada's business service network. The network consists of several integrated organizations that provide entrepreneurs with the expertise they need to start a new business or expand their existing company. The network includes Canada Business Service Centres, Community Futures Development Corporations, Women's Enterprise Initiative offices, Francophone Economic Development Organizations, and regional WD offices in Western Canada.

• In establishing this network, WD is making it possible for entrepreneurs and business owners across Alberta to attend meetings and seminars without leaving their home communities. This will save time and money, and will help strengthen partnerships among the business service network sites .

• The investment supports WD's aim of improving business capacity, productivity and viability through increasing the skill, knowledge and competencies of entrepreneurs in rural Alberta.

Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs)

• CFDCs are volunteer-led, non-profit organizations that rely on local decision-making to develop economic potential and ensure sustainable growth in communities. They offer strategic economic planning, technical and advisory services to businesses, loans to small and medium-sized businesses, self-employment assistance programs, and services targeted to youth and entrepreneurs with disabilities. CFDCs also support research and feasibility studies, as well as community economic development projects.
  
• Since 1995, Western Canada's 90 CFDCs have provided over 16,700 loans to entrepreneurs living in rural and northern communities across the four western provinces. Worth a total of just over $426 million, the loans have leveraged an additional $589.1 million in other funding. Over 49,000 jobs have been created and maintained during the same time period.

Entrepreneurship Learning Centre (ELC)

• WD is announcing a $200,000 investment in the ELC, which is officially being recognized in a light-up ceremony.

• The ELC Network is a learning resource currently comprised of 23 regional points in Alberta that provide business information and interactive training opportunities to small businesses through the use of IP-based video conferencing. The Network is also used to deliver training and staff development.

• Originally championed by The Business Link, the ELC Network members include the Community Futures Network Society of Alberta, Community Futures Development Corporations, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, La Chambre économique de l'Alberta and The Business Link – all members of the Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN)

History

• After initial testing in 2003, a more substantial pilot was established with the acquisition of six video conferencing units in 2004, which were distributed to members of the WCBSN. The current expanse of the Network was realized through Capacity West Projects funded by Western Economic Diversification and additional monetary contributions from 16 CFs and The Business Link.

Current Use

• Approx. 4,000 people have participated in video conferencing events within the ELC Network in a 12-month period.

• The Business Link's spring 2005 season of Brown Bag Presentations recorded the highest attendance ever. Of 1,481 participants, 813 attendees participated via videoconference.

• Through the use of the ELC Network, clients have realized cost savings in their travel expenses.

Project Costs & Funding

• WD's $200,000 investment in the ELC has been directed towards the $256,000 in total project funding. It has been used to purchase and install the video conferencing equipment. Remaining project funds have come from The Business Link, corporate sponsorship (Tandberg, the equipment manufacturer) and business service network sites linked into the network.