Community Futures East Kootenay (CFEK) is excited to introduce Innovate for Impact, a new program to support social entrepreneurs and organizations exploring social enterprise. The program is offering practical tools, expert guidance and a collaborative community to Kootenay residents, whether they are exploring an idea or are already running a purpose-driven enterprise.
“Social enterprise can be a powerful tool to build local capacity, support the creation of sustainable jobs and contribute to the overall economic health and development of our rural region,” states Robyn Peel, Community Economic Development Manager with CFEK. “With this program, we hope to foster that inclusive economic growth and deep social impact that comes when communities lead their own transformation.”
CFEK is inviting interested individuals and organizations from across the Kootenay region to co-create this bold movement and help transform the Kootenays. People can learn how they can get involved at a launch event on Wednesday, June 25 at 12pm PT / 1pm MT. This online event will connect the community with the project team and be the start of an exciting journey–register here.
Innovate for Impact will foster ideas and give hands-on support to people and organizations launching or growing their social enterprises. There will be cohort-based working groups to help emerging entrepreneurs with incubating their ideas. Youth programming is designed to get young people excited about innovative concepts to impact their communities in a positive way. Work Integrated Learning opportunities will link post-secondary students with real-world opportunities. This programming will be supported by bi-monthly workshops for anyone exploring social enterprise as well as a regional community of practice to foster peer learning.
“This work is building on previous projects developed in the Kootenays,” adds Peel. “We were fortunate in 2023 to run a pilot project to enable nonprofit organizations to look at creating social enterprises to support new and sustainable funding streams. We were able to assist in the launch of four local businesses and increase the awareness across the region.”
CFEK was able to deliver this project in collaboration with Impact Toolbox and Innovate for Impact will see them come on as a partner again. “We are very excited to be able to draw on the experience and expertise of the team at Impact Toolbox to further grow the social enterprise ecosystem in the Kootenays and empower entrepreneurs to explore new approaches and innovative solutions,” says Kerstin Renner, General Manager of CFEK.
This project is made possible with support from the Government of BC and the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation through a Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) grant.
