“Fund$ Info Fair” being organized for entrepreneurs and employers April 25


SUMMERSIDE – April 6, 2018 –
All French-speaking entrepreneurs and employers who would like to learn more about various funding sources and grants available for the development or expansion of businesses or for the hiring of employees are invited to participate free of charge in the “Fund$ Info Fair” being held Wednesday, April 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside.

“The main thing that most of our entrepreneurial clients ask us about is funding sources to implement their business project,” says Velma Robichaud, client information officer with the Wellington Rural Action Centre.

“In addition,” adds Raymond J. Arsenault, coordinator of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, “the primary focus of the Chamber’s events this year is finances since our members often ask for information on this topic. That’s why we’re partnering with the Rural Action Centre to organize this important event.”

The morning will be divided into two parts. First of all, a variety of federal and provincial government departments, agencies and organizations will give PowerPoint presentations lasting 15-20 minutes each on their support programs for businesses. They’ll cover such facets as amounts available, program criteria and submission dates for projects. This portion of the day will focus on funds available, for example, for research, market studies, planning, development, implementation, expansion and promotion of businesses, as well as the purchase of equipment.

Presenters will also provide information about entrepreneurial competitions (such as Innovation PEI’S Ignition Contest and RDÉE PEI’s Dragons’ Contest) that offer cash prizes to help entrepreneurs set up a business.

Among the presenters in this first portion will be the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Business Canada, Innovation PEI, the PEI Department of Rural and Regional Development and CBDC Central PEI.

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

During the second portion of the morning, presenters will speak specifically about funding programs to help with the hiring of permanent or temporary workers and interns, such as those from Canada Summer Jobs, Skills PEI, Career Objective PEI, PERCÉ and LIENS Work Experience. The popular Self Employ PEI program, which allows people to continue receiving employment insurance benefits for a year as they set up a new business, will also be explained.

Following the presentations, participants will get the opportunity to meet the presenters individually to briefly discuss their entrepreneurial ideas and to set up official appointments.

“The offices of many of the government officials are located in Charlottetown and Summerside, but they can occasionally come to our Wellington Rural Action Centre to meet with clients,” said Robichaud. “It would be our pleasure to help set up meetings for our clients in our offices or in our board room if our clients wanted to discuss their project with officers from various departments at the same time.”

Pamphlets on various programs will also be available on an information table at the fair.

There is no registration fee for the fair but those who would like to attend must sign up by Monday, April 23, by contacting Velma Robichaud at (902) 854-3439, Ext. 228, or at velma@rdeeipe.org.

This fair is sponsored by the two organizing partners, along with RDÉE Prince Edward Island and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

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CUTLINE: Velma Robichaud, client information officer with the Wellington Rural Action Centre, and Raymond J. Arsenault, coordinator of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, are busily organizing the “Fund$ Info Fair” for French-speaking entrepreneurs and employers Wednesday, April 25, in Summerside.

 

 

For more information:

Velma Robichaud
Client information officer
Wellington Rural Action Centre
(902) 854-3439, Ext. 228
velma@rdeeipe.org.

Raymond J. Arsenault
Coordinator
Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI
(902) 854-3439, Ext. 231
raymond@rdeeipe.org