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Chinook Challenge all about planning
ALEX MCCUAIG the competition and workshops were an invaluable tool While attending some of
amccuaig@medicinehatnews.com for her Wardlow-based business. the workshops offered
“I called the Community Futures office with questions
by Entre-Corp, Newton
With $15,000 as a first prize and half that amount for
regarding normal business practice and we were told
learned of the Challenge
second, the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge is one of
about the challenge,” she said.
and decided to get
the richest prizes a small business could win.
involved.
“We thought this would be a good challenge for us because
The Challenge is a business planning competition, explains
we are a fairly new business and any information we could
“I think a lot of people
J.D. Gaetan from the competition’s major sponsor and
use to better the business would better ourselves also.”
don’t want to go through
benefactor, Community Futures Entre-Corp.
the trouble of writing a business plan, they just want to
Weiland called the information she and her husband
get up and running. I know that at times for every one
“It’s the first business planning competition in Canada
received from workshops “invaluable.”
question, it leads you in 10 different directions and it can
which is held in a small city, rural setting. It’s designed to
“The challenge in today’s world as far as business goes is be frustrating.”
target individuals with new and existing business ideas.”
the more you know, the better off you are. It helps you
But Netwon said her plan developed with the help of
Entre-Corp hosts the potential and existing small-
prepare for the economic challenges we are facing today.”
Entre-Corp is more of a tool for future planning than
business owners during a series of workshops between
The 2008 award went to local businesswoman Maureen anything else.
April and June aimed at helping them with payroll, GST
Newton, who runs Inspire Studio and Gallery in the city’s
paper work as well as future planning for growth of their
“What they are trying to do is support a business that will
downtown.
company or idea.
support itself,” she said.
The studio provides both lessons for would-be artists as
“By the end of the seminars they hand in their business
“It’s a vision. Now we are in this recession and how many
well as a venue to display and sell their works.
plans. The seminars aren’t a requirement to compete but
small businesses will fail but you have already thought out
they are a huge benefit,” said Gaetan.
“I decided I wanted to start my own business and what am I going to do if this happens.”
discovered it was really hard,” explained Newton.
Kerry Weilend, co-owner of Titan Contract Welding with
Entre-Corp’s 2009 Chinook Challenge will begin in
her husband Matt and 2007 winner of the Challenge, said
“I went to Entre-Corp and asked them for help to guide April.
me through.”
Business First is a project designed to make specialized
services and facilities available to entrepreneurs that have a
technology driven idea.
Learn how we can help you grow your Technology based
company by accessing expertise and mentoring
in Southeast Alberta.
For more information please visit us at
www.businessfirst.ca
Call Community Futures Entre-Corp at 403-528-2824
An initiative by the following:
40260954•03/24/09
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