Two Calgary organizations received a massive boost to help women entrepreneurs gain experience and knowledge to grow and invest in small businesses.
Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal was in Calgary Friday to make the $862,000 investment announcement. The funding comes through Prairies Economic Development Canada.
The Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association will get $375,630 to launch a new business incubator program for immigrant women in Alberta. The program will build entrepreneurial knowledge to create business plans and access startup financing.
More than 60 immigrant women will be able to access the program, the federal government said.
“Supporting immigrant women to become business owners enables them to be part of a vibrant ecosystem and a driving force of Alberta’s economy,” said Paula Calderon, CEO of Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association.
Movement51 will get $486,350 to provide financial literacy workshops and investment coaching to women across the prairies. The goal, according to the feds, is to build more capacity among women to be active early-stage investors. They expect that more than 500 women will benefit.
“This funding will enable us to continue the expansion of our educational platform that’s powering the full economic participation of women and gender-diverse people in Canada,” said Movement51 executive director, Danielle Gifford.
MP Chahal said that Calgary – and Alberta – is filled with women entrepreneurs and investors.
“Our investment in the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association and Movement51 will help take women-owned businesses to the next level of growth while building an inclusive economy for our city and our province,” he said.
The funding is being provided through the Regional Innovation Ecosystems program and the Community Economic Development and Diversification program.
