Successful applicants to the WES Ecosystem Fund (2018)

Notice:

This call for proposals is closed - we are no longer accepting applications.

In May 2020, the Government of Canada provided an additional $15 million to the WES Ecosystem Fund, enabling existing recipient organizations to provide women entrepreneurs with access to urgent business support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions to top-up funds were based on several factors, including an organization's capacity to take on additional funds. 

National Stream
Organization Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount - 2020 Total Funding
Asia Pacific Foundation

The project will focus on addressing barriers faced by women entrepreneurs looking to access growth opportunities across the Asian markets by organizing and leading international trade missions.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to: (1) develop an Innovation Ecosystem Mapping Tool - to better facilitate in-person or virtual trade missions ; and (2) undertake a virtual trade mission to South Korea, by hosting a multi-session virtual conference over a two-week period.

$1,754,836 $247,400 $2,002,236
Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC)
(submitted by the Manitoba Women's Enterprise Centre Inc.)

The project will establish a centralized, national headquarters for the Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada to deliver focused, business-growth services to Canadian women entrepreneurs, including business training opportunities, export and trade support, pathfinding services and advocacy.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to facilitate cross-regional connections via a dedicated digital platform, a virtual symposium, a longitudinal national survey on the impacts and recovery from COVID-19, and training tools/resource creation based on data collected.

$2,254,000 $500,000 $2,754,000
National Aboriginal Capital Corp. Association (NACCA)

The project will develop capacity, tools and supports for Indigenous women to undertake entrepreneurship to build or grow a business as well as develop a proof of concept for an Indigenous women's microfinance fund.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to deliver 10 new targeted workshops focused on: post-COVID planning and recovery support for Indigenous female entrepreneurs; tools and resources that will support entrepreneurial and business skills; and opportunities to network with other Indigenous women engaged in business development.

$1,200,000 $250,000 $1,450,000
Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)

The project aims to support the Native Women's Association of Canada to develop an incubator program to assist and provide ongoing mentorships, networking opportunities, workshops and resources to Indigenous, Two Spirit and gender-diverse entrepreneurs.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will allow more women across Canada to benefit from the originally proposed activities using the new COVID-19 funds.

$1,199,911 $265,000 $1,464,911
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada

The project focuses on supporting Inuit women entrepreneurs by sustaining and enhancing existing networking and mentorships initiatives while identifying and addressing Inuit women's key economic development issues and priorities.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to create a series of animated instructional videos in English and Inuktut to guide and support aspiring and established Inuit businesswomen to address structural gaps, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19.

$2,014,054 $143,000 $2,157,054
Restigouche CBDC Inc.

The project's goal is to increase the volume of women entrepreneurs who access business financing by providing tools, awareness and training to loan officers to ensure a better understanding of the specific needs and barriers that women entrepreneurs face.

Enhancement: n/a

$2,170,000 n/a $2,170,000
SheEO

The project will enable SheEO to expand its existing programs and services across Canada to help women entrepreneurs access non-traditional financing along with customized training.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to revamp its existing engagement and learning strategies to pivot towards a sustainable virtual medium. As part of the pivot, SheEO will be able to maintain and expand awareness and mentorship opportunities within its Activator Network.

$2,500,000 $600,532 $3,100,532

All national projects are available to support women entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses in the North.

Total funding
Total WES Ecosystem National Fund Projects:
7
Total WES Ecosystem National Funding (up to…):
$15,098,733

Regional Stream

Alberta
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Banff Television Festival Foundation Calgary

The project aims to develop the Banff Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, which will empower women entrepreneurs to build and grow their businesses within the screen-based industries.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide specialized business advisory services, mentoring, training and other resources both online and in person to women-owned/led business to assist them in recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic.

$1,993,000 $275,000 $2,268,000
Momentum Community Economic Development Society Calgary

The project objective is to deliver a 'Women in Business by Design' program which will provide business development training to vulnerable women in the Calgary area.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to develop an enhanced on-line curriculum and additional remote coaching resources, as well as assisting clients in identifying and taking advantage of new business opportunities.

$1,373,379 $300,000 $1,673,379
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Association Edmonton

This project will launch a new digital business training program for women entrepreneurs.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide specialized business advisory services, mentoring, training and other resources to women-owned/led business to assist them in recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

$1,140,000 $550,000 $1,690,000
Lethbridge Economic Development Initiative Society (Economic Development Lethbridge) Lethbridge

The aim of this project is to develop a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) centric community of practice that includes mentors, entrepreneur service providers and trainers, angel investors, and venture capitalists to embrace emerging technologies and innovation.

Enhancement: n/a

$1,681,080 n/a $1,681,080
Community Futures Lloydminster and Region Development Corp. Lloydminster

The project objective is to create and enhance incubator space in rural and remote northeastern Alberta and northwestern Saskatchewan to promote entrepreneurship to under represented women.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide specialized business advisory services, mentoring, training and other resources to women owned/ led business to assist them in recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic.

$1,096,000 $335,000 $1,431,000
Community Futures Central Alberta Red Deer

The project will focus on the creation of an Indigenous entrepreneurship program which will be delivered in rural and remote areas in central Alberta.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will include an easily accessible online/virtual platform as well as childcare services for in person programming  to ensure the maximum number of women entrepreneurs are supported.

$183,300 $107,980 $291,280
British Columbia
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Women's Enterprise Centre Kelowna

The objective of this project is to improve the competitiveness of diverse women entrepreneurs impacted by geographical, sectoral and demographic representation. Activities will enable enhanced export readiness, finance, technology, business and networking skills, and provide mentorship opportunities.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide specialized business advisory services, mentoring, training and other resources to women-owned/led businesses to assist them in recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic.

$2,700,000 $670,603 $3,370,603
Community Futures Development Corp. of Fraser Fort George Prince George

The focus of the project is to support the creation and implementation of a business resource center for women entrepreneurs in Northern British Columbia.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide support to women entrepreneurs through the recovery of their business, acquiring a business coach and finalizing a pivot and implementation plan for their businesses.

$745,000 $151,372 $896,372
Community Futures Shuswap Salmon Arm

The project will support the delivery of business advisory services (e.g. small business training and knowledge transfer activities etc.), to diverse groups of women entrepreneurs, such as women with disabilities, Indigenous and Metis women, immigrants, and women located in the Shuswap Region of British Columbia (Tsuts'weye Project).

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide incremental and tailored services to women entrepreneurs in the Shuswap Region, including business retention and expansion, tourism re-start, digital transition and a COVID-19 speaker series.

$476,280 $140,000 $616,280
Groundswell Education Society Vancouver

The project will focus on social entrepreneurship programs specifically targeting underserved, diverse women (LGBTQ+, immigrant, Indigenous or low income) in order to address gaps in the entrepreneurship ecosystem for women, including practical business education instruction, workshops, and mentorship.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will provide additional activities to design and develop a platform to deliver the program online, and marketing to reach new online clients.

$400,000 $140,000 $540,000
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Vancouver

The project will develop an entrepreneurship program tailored for visible minority and recent immigrant women. Activities will include one-on-one business coaching, group-based workshops, networking and training activities, mentoring, and the creation of a business centre and website to provide in-person services and online support.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide specialized business training and advisory services (including business resiliency, digital marketing, re-branding, financing, and cybersecurity) to women-owned/led businesses to assist them in recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

$1,500,000 $230,000 $1,730,000
Community Futures North Okanagan Vernon

The project objective is to develop and deliver a business scale-up program for women entrepreneurs within the Okanagan region of British Columbia.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to develop an online knowledge hub to improve virtual access to training and resources, helping women entrepreneurs improve their social media and on-line presence; develop new HR and business management tools; conduct website and e-commerce audits; and advising on pivoting the business and the development of new business models.

$575,000 $140,000 $715,000
Manitoba
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Community Futures Parkland Inc. Grandview

The project will aim to close service gaps in the ecosystem unique to rural and northern women entrepreneurs. This objective will be met by establishing rural business "Hubs" which will provide services such as tools, resources, training, and mentorship.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will provide services and support to help women in rural and northern Manitoba move their business online (marketing, sales and distribution). Additional supports include mentorship, training, an incubation program and the establishment of production labs with equipment to assist clients in branding, virtual marketing and product packaging.

$1,215,000 $199,000 $1,414,000
Manitoba Women's Enterprise Centre Inc. Winnipeg

The project objective is to improve competitiveness of diverse women entrepreneurs impacted by geographical location, culture and sector representation and will aim to close the entrepreneurship ecosystem gaps faced by rural and remote-based entrepreneurs.

Enhancement: The increased funding will provide specialized business advisory services, mentoring, training and other resources including needs assessments, peer support groups, resources and knowledge building through industry experts that work directly with women entrepreneurs.

$1,513,900 $352,567 $1,866,467
SEED Winnipeg Inc. Winnipeg

The project will aim to provide opportunities in skill building, networking, matchmaking, and mentorship in order to strengthen business and entrepreneurial skills in diverse women's communities. The focus will be on low-income, financially vulnerable Indigenous and newcomer women.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will include curriculum adaptation for virtual delivery, a laptop-lending program for participants, business advisory services, webinars, resources and consultant supports working directly with women entrepreneurs.

$664,612 $63,043 $727,655
Newfoundland and Labrador
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs St. John's

The project will target women in underrepresented groups and sectors to help scale up and diversify their products/services, through services such as skills training in finances, operations management, new market identification, exporting, networking, mentoring and human resources.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will support advisory services programming in Newfoundland and Labrador, and, through partners, advisory services in New Brunswick. This will assist women entrepreneurs to navigate the COVID-19 economic situation.

$1,940,292 $688,800 $2,629,092
New Brunswick
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick Inc. Moncton

This project aims to develop and implement a provincial program to support women throughout the process of taking over a business. Activities will include the adaptation of tools to meet individual needs, as well as leveraging resources and services already offered in the ecosystem. Efforts will focus on community economic development in New Brunswick's Acadian and Francophone communities and businesses in underrepresented traditional sectors (e.g. manufacturing sector).

Enhancement: n/a

$1,211,595 n/a $1,211,595
Nova Scotia
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Centre for Women in Business Halifax

The project objective is to develop and deliver an intensive management program called Greater Heights for Growth (GHG). The program will target women-owned high-growth businesses.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will support advisory services programming in Nova Scotia, and through partners in Prince Edward Island, to assist women entrepreneurs navigate the COVID-19 economic situation.

$2,015,600 $459,200 $2,474,800
Ontario
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Bancroft

This project, in collaboration with the Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini Algonquin First Nations, will provide customized training to Indigenous women entrepreneurs residing in the remote region of the Algonquin community. The Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini Algonquin First Nations will host training sessions from their centre to help women start and scale-up their businesses and leverage resources, such as training material from the CFDC.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to support the purchase of technical equipment such as tablets, laptops and digital cameras and to collaborate with at least one other First Nation community to establish an online marketplace for indigenous women entrepreneurs to sell their products.

$266,250 $60,600 $326,850
Haltech Regional Innovation Centre Burlington

The project will create an accelerator to help diverse women entrepreneurs to scale-up and reach global markets. Activities will include training sessions through cohort-based programming and mentorship opportunities.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to support the following incremental activities: Power Panel & Mentorship - establish quarterly panels in which women-owned companies pitch to a group of mentors; enhancing Advanced Advisory Services; and expanding Roadmap to MVP through a combination of content sessions and mentoring.

$307,800 $235,500 $543,300
Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation Cobourg

This project will support the development of a fintech algorithmic coding platform; its aim is to correct bias and advance gender equality for women entrepreneurs applying for loans through the Community Futures Program Investment Fund. The project will also provide women entrepreneurs access to working space and business advisory/counselling services.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to collaborate, coordinate and support further refinement to the fintech platform to improve its usability.

$1,436,500 $380,000 $1,816,500
LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation Gore Bay

This project will stimulate women-owned and women-led business start-up and scale-up by increasing their access to business development supports throughout the region. Women will be connected to industry experts to address their specific growth needs.

Enhancement: The additional funding will allow LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation to build on the success of the Northern Ontario Community Futures Women in Business Enhancement project and further support start-up and scale-up of Northern Ontario women-owned and women-led businesses by providing them with access to mentoring networks, professional services and expert advisors.

$1,375,000 $522,075 $1,897,075
Innovation Guelph Resource Centre Guelph

This project seeks to develop and accelerate the "growth to scale" of women-led companies through customized mentoring, facilitated learning and skill-building training and market development. Innovation Guelph and partners will run the proposed program with a focus on STEM, rural and social enterprises. Diverse women entrepreneurs to be supported include refugees, immigrants, and Indigenous women.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to support the creation of a goal setting app to help companies establish a path forward post COVID-19, as well as the development of a COVID-19 pivot accelerator to provide focused advisory/mentorship for high potential women-led businesses that need to pivot and adjust due to COVID-19.

$1,879,983 $261,250 $2,141,233
The Hamilton Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA Hamilton) Hamilton

This project will support women with business training and coaching to successfully start up or grow their own small businesses.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to support the Hamilton YWCA to help bridge digital skills shortfalls of women entrepreneurs through a digital advisory service which will include the addition of two e-Business Advisors to assist with their digital transformation, the hosting of online workshops and the leveraging of platforms to connect women entrepreneurs.

$1,015,641 $138,691 $1,154,332
Société de développement communautaire de Prescott-Russell Hawkesbury

This project will deliver entrepreneurial programming, services and provide easier access to capital for women entrepreneurs in Official Languages Minority Communities (OLMC's) in southern Ontario. Activities will develop a new network of women in business through strategic alliances with Francophone and bilingual stakeholders in various and diverse sectors.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to support the development of an online testing tool, in collaboration with La Cité College, to immediately identify competencies of entrepreneurs, in order to tailor mentoring and coaching specific to their needs.

$955,128 $289,631 $1,244,759
Ontario East Economic Development Commission Kingston

The project aims to promote, launch, deliver, and evaluate a Women's Virtual Entrepreneurship Incubator Pilot Project, which includes on-line training, workshops, virtual one-on-one discussions, and access to networking, matchmaking and mentoring via virtual activities.

Enhancement: n/a

$823,000 n/a $823,000
Queen's University at Kingston Kingston

The project will deliver a suite of programming for women in tech and indigenous women entrepreneurs that will accelerate the commercialization of new technologies and will include mentorship and matchmaking services within the regional ecosystem.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 funding will be used to expand services provided to women entrepreneurs through its collaborators and to develop and launch 'OvercomeHER' a virtual workshop series that addresses accessibility barriers for women entrepreneurs with disabilities.

$3,267,616 $250,000 $3,517,616
Pillar Nonprofit Network London

The project will aim to broaden and diversify the entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting women entrepreneurs. Inclusion of Indigenous knowledge/practices across programming, support and expansion of women-led social enterprises, training sessions and access to capital will be integral activities.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to increase one-on-one coaching, expand French language supports to deliver a series of social enterprise workshops, offer business development services in digital sales, deliver investment readiness coaching, engage a partner to create stories and profiles, and provide impact reporting for each participant.

$3,585,303 $284,500 $3,869,803
ventureLAB Innovation Centre Markham

This project will aim to increase the number of women led tech companies that specifically build software or hardware-enabled solutions for various priority economic sectors. Activities will include the development of training materials, delivery of a cohort-based program for female tech founders and mentorship opportunities.

Enhancement: Additional COVID-19 top-up funding will help deliver activities such as B2B customer matchmaking events to provide female-founded tech companies with strategically aligned connections, the hosting of three Investor Round Table sessions to enable companies to pitch to a targeted investment partners, and brand visibility and networking connections.

$1,716,835 $370,000 $2,086,835
Tecumseh Community Development Corporation Sarnia

The project objective is to deliver the Pathway to Personal Success program with an aim to foster stronger economic development growth by utilizing a holistic approach to assist, equip and enable women entrepreneurs from varying diverse groups.

Enhancement: n/a

$337,000 n/a $337,000
PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise Thunder Bay

The Enterprising Indigenous Women project will support Indigenous women in remote and rural communities to start and scale-up their businesses. PARO will provide holistic business and entrepreneurship supports and training to facilitate business start and/or scale in growth sectors such as mining, forestry, transportation, and power.

Enhancement:  Additional funding will allow PARO to provide enhanced supports and expertise to women entrerpreneurs, as they navigate impacts to their business operations and move towards business transformation and recovery post-COVID-19.

$1,433,031 $405,888 $1,838,919
Canadian Film Centre Toronto

The project will deliver an incubation program that will accelerate 200 women-led companies in southern Ontario's digital media ecosystem through specialized boot camp training sessions, demonstration events to showcase products and companies, and networking.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to launch a new program, Fifth Wave Service Boost, that will provide existing Fifth Wave participants with access to a pre-established pool of accelerated service offerings.  It will also enable an additional Fifth Wave Lab/Boot camp cohort of companies comprised of women digital entrepreneurs who represent the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

$3,395,000 $600,000 $3,995,000
Elizabeth Fry Society (Elizabeth Fry Toronto) Toronto

The project will initiate a second cohort of My Start-Up to support marginalized women who may have struggled with mental health issues or conflict with law to launch their own viable business.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to retool its existing My Start Up program to be fully virtual by equipping participants with the applicable technology and training that will facilitate completion of the program and better equip participants with the skills necessary to enter today's workplace.

$1,002,004 $43,296 $1,045,300
York University Toronto

The project will develop and deliver the Fempower program (known as ELLA), which will support women entrepreneurs by providing business education and resources, female centred supports, real solutions to overcome barriers, access to resources, and networking.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will support the incorporation of a new Coaching and Leadership Support module to the ELLA programming and launch a new initiative, a Fractional Executive Program, where a cohort of 10 advanced ELLA participants will have support to access mentorship and coaching that will assist in addressing barriers or challenges associated with scaling globally.

$1,868,400 $281,600 $2,150,000
Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo

The project will utilize existing incubation/acceleration space to offer support to women entrepreneurs at the early start-up stage and those looking to accelerate and scale their businesses, focusing on the non-tech sectors and those creating social enterprises.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to digitize their operations. As a net new incremental activity to its existing WES Ecosystem project, the university will rely principally on new partnerships and collaborations with external organizations to reach women entrepreneurs.

$1,385,000 $290,000 $1,675,000
WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation Windsor

This project will encourage women entrepreneurs to start and grow emerging technology businesses, such as agri-food, automation, automotive and mobility.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top up funding will be used to support the EPIC VentureWomen Accelerator Program - led by EPICentre, the accelerator program will support new or early start-ups to bring innovative ideas to market, and F5: Refresh or Reload Venture Success Team - led by WEtech Alliance, the program will provide women entrepreneurs with incremental training to help them better leverage technology to rebuild their company following the COVID-19 pandemic.

$692,000 $117,000 $809,000
Quebec
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Collège d'Alma Alma

The project will aim to support COlab, which works to train and mentor women entrepreneurs in a 4.0 digital culture framework.

Enhancement:The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will allow the client to support female entrepreneurs remotely through a new digital platform and offer them expert services that meet their needs.

$912,631 $200,000 $1,112,631
Fédération des agricultrices du Québec Longueuil

The project aims to implement an adapted program to support access to networking and mentoring activities for women entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding aims to expand supports for women entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector through adapted networking and mentorship support.

$456,961 $88,390 $545,351
Association Communautaire d'Emprunt de Montréal (Microcrédit Montréal) Montréal

The project aims to offer a support service adapted to immigrant women in order to develop their entrepreneurial potential.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding aims to help immigrant women develop their entrepreneurial potential (particularly in areas such as e-commerce and management) through tailored support.

$1,461,000 $320,000 $1,781,000
École des entrepreneurs du Québec Montréal

The project will aim to stimulate the creation and growth of women-led businesses with a cohort approach and tailor-made solutions in all regions of Québec.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will serve to consolidate a women's virtual campus, which will offer better access to tailored online training, coaching, and networking.

$3,262,070 $785,510 $4,047,580
Youth Employment Services Foundation Montréal

The project aims to support Official Languages Minority Communities (OLMC) women start and grow their SMEs in all regions of Quebec through the delivery of Youth Employment Services's ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs Project.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will provide individual coaching that will be  enhanced by new specialized e-learning, online seminars, and networking.

$1,260,000 $237,100 $1,497,100
Femmessor Québec Québec

The project aims to provide support and facilitate access to financing for women entrepreneurs in under-represented sectors, diverse women, rural and remote areas and those in their early stages of growth.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will provide individual coaching, specialized expert services, and amplify co-development and e-learning.

$5,735,823 $1,250,000 $6,985,823
Saskatchewan
Organization City/Town Project Description Original Funding Amount - 2018 (up to…) New COVID-19 Related Funding Amount – 2020 Total Funding
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. Saskatoon

The project will help women entrepreneurs in the food processing sector by creating business development services such as mentoring, networking, coaching, and training.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will help women-owned value-added agriculture SMEs re-establish market share, respond to changing regulations in the food industry due to the COVID crisis, and lower costs for processing product.

$1,000,000 $245,000 $1,245,000
Saskatoon Open Door Society Inc. Saskatoon

The project will support the creation of a business incubator and start-up business training services for newcomer and recent immigrant women entrepreneurs.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will include the creation of a collective on-line platform where immigrant women can market and sell their products, develop an online/virtual presence of the Society's international women incubator, and to purchase equipment to aid the transition to e-commerce platforms and increase marketing through social media.

$999,219 $250,435 $1,249,654
Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. Saskatoon

This project will aim to develop and deliver a new program called "The Exchange," which will focus on scaling up existing women-owned businesses in Saskatchewan.

Enhancement: The additional COVID-19 top-up funding will be used to provide specialized business advisory services, mentoring, training and other resources to women-led businesses to assist them in recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic, particularly in relation to new safety requirements implemented due to the pandemic.

$1,560,000 $350,000 $1,910,000

In the Atlantic region two recipient organizations (Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, and the Nova Scotia Centre for Women in Business) received additional funding to support advisory services programming in all four Atlantic provinces to assist women entrepreneurs in navigating the COVID-19 economic situation.

Total funding
Total WES Ecosystem Regional Fund Projects:
45
Total WES Ecosystem Regional Funding (up to…):
$78,872,264