Small Business Loans
for Women in Eastern Canada
ACOA Women in Business Initiative
The ACOA Women in Business Initiative focuses on improving
the access of women to business financing. To do this, ACOA
(Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) has partnered with
Development Corporations throughout the region.
There are more than 40 Community Business Development Corporations
(CBDCs) in the region as well as a multitude of urban lenders
who are part of the program.
For
More Details Click Here
ACOA Women in Business Initiative Business Management
Training Allowance
The program will finance up to 75 percent (to a maximum
of $2,000) of approved training costs for women business
owners in the Atlantic provinces who wish to undertake business
management training in such areas as marketing, finance
and accounting and information management.
For
More Details Click Here
Small Business Loans
for Women in Central Canada
Paro Centre for Women's Enterprise
Located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Paro Centre operates
over 30 peer lending circles throughout the Thunder Bay,
Greenstone, Patricia and Superior North regions. These groups
of four to seven women meet monthly to "exchange advice,
provide support, approve and guarantee each other's loans
and monitor payments".
If you are a woman who wants to become economically independent
by starting a business or finding a job, Paro also operates
the Northern
Opportunities for Women program, which provides small
business loans as well as training and support to get you
started on your new path. (You need to reside in Northwestern
Ontario to participate.)
For
More Details Click Here
The AFER Program for
Women in Rural Communities
This is actually a small business grant program rather
than a small business loan program. Women who live in one
of the rural communities of Quebec served by this program
who wish to start a business may qualify for a maximum grant
of $3000 to develop their project and carry out their business
plan and/or a maximum of $25,000 to cover start-up costs.
Réseau
des SADC du Québec
Ministère du Développement
écononomique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation (MDEIE).
(French only.)
The Quebec government and Filaction have partnered to provide
regional investment funds for women entrepreneurs. This
financial assistance targets women in the following regions:
Mauricie, Bas St-Laurent, Gaspé-Îles-de-la-Madeleine,
Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Saguenay-Lac St-Jean.
Fonds
d'investissement pour l'entrepreneurship féminin
