CommunityFutures25Years

Celebrating

25

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Years Working Together

S2 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops OCTOBER, 2013

Celebrating

25 Years

In

Kamloops

Economic Development comes in many forms Since 1987, Community Futures Thompson Country has worked to improve the social and environmental fabric of the region

By Kara Evans Special to the Daily News

O

ne of the main purposes of Community Futures Thompson Country’s mandate is its Community Economic Development (CED) project.

Community Economic Development works off of the idea that as long as the social, economic, and environmental fabric of a community is served, then those clients in need are stronger.

It all started in 1990, when the CED project worked with Wells Grey on its tourism strategy. Since then, approximately 20 grass roots groups in various sectors such as mining, forestry and tourism, have benefitted from CED projects. In more recent years, the focus has been on the agricultural sector, helping local farmers and ranchers network and work together to promote local production.

“We’ve done a lot of work to develop and enhance the farm gate sales of agriculture and food endeavours, to work with the 100-Mile diet and to really help local producers sell their products at farm gates and farmers markets because they generally get more money for the products that way,” said Shirley Culver, CED co-ordinator. “The food is fresh and it’s local and so we’ve done a lot of promotion with that.”

One project that highlights this effort is the Thompson Shuswap Chef Farmer Collaborative. Through the CED, they were able to gain seed funding, and now 50 to 60 local producers and chefs work in sync through networking and give back to one another.

“One of the neat things that they do is they have a Google Group,” explains Culver. “If a farmer has a bunch of broccoli that he’s looking to get rid of, he’ll put it on the Google Group and the chefs will say, ‘I need some of that.’ It’s a communication linkage to encourage the local chefs to buy more local food products.”

The popular culinary event Farm2Chef branched off from this effort, also becoming a CED project. Occurring every summer, it acts both as a fundraiser and raises awareness of the partnerships between local producers and chefs.

Another highlight from recent years was the Canadian Slow Food Meeting. With the help of the CED project, local produc-

Community Futures Thompson Country lent its support to the mountain pine beetle tree removal program as a Job Creation Project (JCP) with the City of Kamloops. Right, CFTC is also a big supporter of the local food collaborative Farm2Chef.

ers from Barriere and Whitecroft, along with Thompson Rivers University Culinary Arts and Meat Cutting students and their instructors were able to travel to Osoyoos to the Slow Food Meeting to promote the livestock and poultry industry in the Thompson region.

Community Futures Thompson Country has also shown support for recent Kamloops Tomato Festival, held in mid-September as part of the Farmer’s Market. Entry to the festival allowed participants to sample many varieties of tomatoes, as well as learn from master gardeners how to save seeds.

CFTC has also thrown its support behind Thompson Shuswap Food Connections Project, the B.C. Association of Farmer’s Market AGM. The association also supported the Wildfire Fencing joint community project, as well as worked in partnership with the City of Kamloops for a Job Creation Project (JCP) in pine beetle tree removal.

Culver and the rest of the staff at CFTC know that a community is only as strong as their weakest links, and through the CED projects, the communities within the Thompson region are only getting better and stronger.

Congratulations to Community Futures on 25 Years!

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OCTOBER, 2013 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops S3

Celebrating

25 Years

In

Kamloops

North Thompson Agriplex benefits from CFTC Designed to take five years to reach completion, the arena is ahead of schedule due to a boost from Community Futures

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wo years ago, the North Thompson Agriplex Committee (NTAC) set out with an ambitious plan to develop a 36,000 square foot arena, complete with pens and chutes, a 3,000 square foot meeting and banquet hall, full washroom and shower facilities, office, parking and more.

Today, three years ahead of schedule, the Agriplex is nearly complete and while the residents of the North Thompson are largely to credit for the success of the project, Community Futures Thompson Country is responsible for giving the project a major boost.

The Agriplex committee, led by president Jill Hayward, wanted to use the space to host a 2012 New Years Eve Bull-A-Rama, with proceeds going to support the Farm Kids Scholarship, raising money for rural students to attend university.

The Bull-A-Rama took place, says Hayward, because CFTC came up with a grant allowing the committee to purchase rodeo fencing, corrals and shoots. “That put us right out there, on the map, fully functional and ready to go,” says Hayward.

“We figured from the time we first started to build the Agriplex it would take us five years and it only took us two years because Community Futures came on board, which is awesome.”

Numerous events have been held at the Agriplex since the Bull-A-Rama, including the Canadian Sheep Breeders Classic Show and Sale, which is a national showcase and brought people from across the country to the North Thompson. The Back Country Horseman of B.C. Rendezvous was also held at the space, as was the North

Shauna Moore/Creature Focus Photography

“

The Agriplex is already creating huge economic development.”

Jill Hayward, NTAC President Thompson Fall Fair and the Provincial Winter Fair. “We’re in discussions with having other rodeos and events … we’ve done amazing things,” says Hayward, explaining that apart from the bleachers and the kitchen, the Agriplex is complete.

The cost of building the Agriplex comes in at approximately $1.2 million, with most of that money coming in the form of donations of cash and in-kind services from community members, and the remainder coming from CFTC and various government grants, including earmarked funding from the 2003 wildfires.

The goal with the structure is to provide new opportunities to improve the economic, environmental, social and cultural capacity of Barrier and the North Thompson region, something that is already happen-

Top, with support from CFTC, the North Thompson Agriplex Committee put on a New Years Eve Bull-a-Rama at the newly constructed facility. Above, the Canadian Sheep Breeders Classic Show and Sale brought breeders from across Canada, including Richard Herlinveaux of Victoria, and Jesica Walker of Langley, right.

ing with the types of events being booked in the space, says Hayward.

“The Agriplex is already creating huge

economic development. It’s bringing in people who would never have come here otherwise.”

Volunteers vital to CFTC’s long term success Support for Community Futures comes from a variety of business leaders who see the value in giving back to entrepreneurs

By Kara Evans Special to the Daily News

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ommunity Futures Thompson Country maintains its strength through its many dedicated and tireless volunteers. CFTC is governed by a volunteer board of directors drawn from the community-at-large and representing a widerange of interests including banking, labour, business, professional and government services. Volunteers represent the geographic area of the region, including Clearwater, Barrier, Chase and Kamloops to ensure the needs of the communities are met.

Stan Brevik

Brevik has been a volunteer for CFTC since 1991, and is the past loans committee board member.

Q. What made you decide to volunteer?

A. “I was asked if I would join the Development Corporation and I thought, ‘Okay, that’s something I could do.’ It was a wonderful, good experience and we did a lot of great things for some of the small businesses in Kamloops.”

Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your time with CFTC? A. “The satisfaction of getting these businesses in becoming successful. We helped them along and the majority of them were very successful and it gave me a lot of pleasure. It great to see people who work hard but need a little assistance financially and we were there to give it to them.

George Park

Park has been a volunteer since 1986, is a past board member and currently sits on the loans committee.

Q. What made you decide to volunteer?

A. “I have always been in the forestry industry and Shirley (Culver) approached me at a meeting and asked if I would be interested in being on the board. I have always been in the forest industry and I don’t think they had anyone from that industry.”

A. What has been the most rewarding part of your time with CFTC? A. “You see young companies and entrepreneurs that otherwise wouldn’t be able

to get funding through banks, so we’re able to get them financing and give loans to them. I can relate to that. When I was young I started a company and knew the struggles of having little free cash and starting a company.

Ken White

White has been a volunteer since 1987 and currently sits on the loans committee Q. What made you decide to volunteer?

A. “I was working for BDC (Business Development Bank) when I was approached by Malcolm Smith, who was a solicitor with Morelli Chertkow. Smith said: ‘They’re going to start up a loan program and need someone with lending experience, would you get involved?’ so I did.”

Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your time with CFTC? “I can go through Kamloops, Clearwater, and the communities around us, walk through town and say, ‘We started that one, that one, and that one ...’ It’s nice to see a business grow and get well established for many years, and without us, it wouldn’t be there. We also deal with clients who can’t get conventional financing — the bottom 25 per cent. Our lending means not only lending the money but holding hands and helping and assisting these businesses.

Community Futures Thompson Country board chairman Ken White has volunteered his time for CFTC since 1987.

Earl Tomyn

Tomyn has been a volunteer since 2005 and is a current board member Q. What made you decide to volunteer?

“The previous person in Clearwater who was volunteering for the board left and she asked if I was interested. I met with the board and said I would sit on the board and volunteer in anyway I could, and that’s how I ended up on the board.”

Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your time with CFTC? “The most rewarding part is for us to help young people get into their own business. I think that’s very rewarding and when I find that the companies or businesses that have come through Community Futures, I like to help them in any way possible. It’s great to help people create their own business.”

George Park has volunteered with CFTC since 1986.

Earl Tomyn, current CFTC board member, has been a volunteer since 2005.

S4 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops OCTOBER, 2013

Celebrating

25 Years

In

Kamloops

Gym celebrates successful year thanks to CFTC “They were phenomenal,” No Limits Fitness co-owner Andrew Watson says of the economic development organization

N

o Limits Fitness was nearly complete, its opening date set for January 2013 and co-owner Andrew Watson was just completing an equipment order.

“It was close to crunch time,” recalls Watson saying that he was looking over the figures and discovered the interest payments on leasing the fitness equipment were astronomical.

“It was unbelievable the interest that they wanted to charge me. I felt like I was living in the 1920s.”

So, as any good business owner would do, he made some calls and began shopping around trying to get a better rate. His first call was to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), which had provided the owners — Watson and partners Darren and Maria Maywood — the startup capital to get the building construction and massive renovation underway. BDC recommended Watson speak with the folks at Community Futures-Thompson Country, which he did immediately.

“Within a few weeks we got the loan and it saved a significant amount of interest — they were phenomenal,” Watson said.

No Limits Fitness opened the Eighth Street location in January on schedule and on budget. The facility — all 22,000 square feet — was developed because its owners saw a need. “Almost half of Kamloops lives on the North Shore,” said Wat-

No Limits Fitness co-owner Andrew Watson says the facility, which opened in January 2013, saved significant money because of a lower interest loan provided by Community Futures Thompson Country. The loan allowed the owners to lease the high-end equipment pictured above.

son who determined that those people were not being well served.

No Limits has everything a high-end gym ought to have. It has a sizeable boot camp, or X-Camp room, free weights, topof-the-line cardio equipment, child minding, squash courts, handicapped his and hers washrooms and handicapped accessible his and hers steam rooms. Bikram Yoga leases studio space from the gym, and

there is an on-site registered massage therapist and chiropractor.

“It’s a one-stop shop. Everything is state of the art and brand new,” says Watson.

While he fully expects the gym would have opened on time without the help of CFDC, it would have come at a much greater cost for the owners.

“They were a life saver. They saved us a ton of money, especially over the course of

a five or six year loan.”

The owners surpassed their own goals from the moment the doors opened — an indication that the business plan and location were perfect for the service they wanted to provide.

“We’ve been making money since day one. We had 1,000 people sign up within the first three weeks and we hit our six month projections within the first month.”

Carpet cleaning business gets a hand up from CFTC Fraser Parks knew he had the drive and determination to make it as an entrepreneur, but even with all roads pointing toward success, he was grateful for the support and opportunities provided to him through the self-employment program offered through Community Futures Thompson Country.

Parks launched his business, Competent Carpet Cleaning in August 2012. Prior to starting the company, the 27-year-old had attended business conferences in Los Angeles that filled him with the knowledge he needed to become successful. During that time, he also worked in the Northern Alberta oil patch to save money, always

with the intent of moving back to Kamloops and going into business.

“Community Futures provided me with valuable advice, knowledge and insight on how to become an effective leader in the world today,” says Parks.

“They helped with developing an implementation plan, legal advice, handling books and taxes as well as clever tips on effective marketing.”

In its first year and because of the focus on environmentally-friendly products, Competent Carpet Cleaning was nominated for the 2013 Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Green Award, an achievement Parks is particularly proud

of. Competent Carpet Cleaning is focused on health, wellness and delivering exceptional customer service. Parks has made it his business to become educated about the products he uses to ensure they’re as safe and environmentally ‘green’ as possible.

“I’ve tried nearly all of the top green-line products, now I use the healthiest, most effective products on the market today, guaranteed. I always offer three separate cleaning styles — steam, ionization (dry clean) and bonnet cleaning.”

Each system differs in price, but it is all done at a lower cost than his competition, which is another reason for Parks’ success this year.

Fraser Parks, owner-operator of Competent Carpet Cleaning.

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CONGRATULATIONS Community Futures Thompson Country 25 years of service in Kamloops

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We truly value our partnership with you and look forward to many more years of working together.

OCTOBER, 2013 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops S5

Celebrating

25 Years

Kamloops

In

Community Futures turns dreams in to reality Bringing professional services to seniors is one way to help them stay in their homes longer, says hair stylist

S

usan Grant had experience, compassion and determination — all necessary for opening her own mobile hair salon. But it was only through the support of Community Futures-Thompson Country that she was able to successfully take that final step toward entrepreneurship .

Grant spent most of her working life in Vancouver as a hairstylist. When personal circumstances forced her to move to Kamloops and give up a stable of regular clients, she decided to change course, and spent four years working as a hairdresser in a local retirement community.

She loved it, and discovered that working with the elderly was something she was uniquely suited to. But her job was restructured and eventually Grant found herself unemployed, fortunately she had talent and an idea, and that was all it took.

With the help of CFTC, Grant opened a mobile hair salon. Today, she goes into seniors homes and does their hair, chats with them and breaks up their day. Her’s is an essential service, she says, and she’s never been happier.

“It’s a completely new service and I’m working (at times) with some very marginalized people. It’s a completely different approach.”

Her time spent in the retirement community certainly provided a good training ground, she says, explaining that her clients ranged from perfectly healthy and ac-

“

I enjoy going into people’s homes and giving them that lift and making them happy.” tive seniors, to those suffering from varying degrees of dementia.

The decision to open her business was based on what Grant considered a significant gap in the marketplace.

“There’s a real need for professional people to step up to the plate and try to keep seniors in their homes, because that’s where they’re happiest.”

But something simple — like a hair cut, or a perm — requires significant planning and stress if a senior is home bound.

Transportation alone, says Grant, can prove exhausting.

“It’s so much nicer if people can be in the comfort of their own home. I enjoy going into people’s homes and giving them that lift and make them happy.”

Grant doesn’t restrict her services to seniors, but brings her salon to anyone who finds it difficult to get out — single moms who have difficulty finding a babysitter, or those who are disabled and find transportation a challenge, for example.

Grant launched her mobile hair salon in early 2013, and she’s pleased the results so far and is gaining new clients each month.

keith anderson/The daily news

Susan Grant launched a mobile hair salon with the help of CFTC. She is pictured in her home salon.

Starting a new career later in life comes with challenges Brown determined that if the opportunities weren’t coming to him, he’d create his own, and that’s how he first connected with Community Futures Thompson Country.

The experience he gained through CFTC’s self-employment program proved valuable, says Brown who launched Bill Brown Renovations and Maintenance little more than a year ago.

“They made me think about the business … they get you thinking about success.”

Brown has always worked in construction but running a business was a completely new experience. After completing the CFTC program, Brown hit the ground

Congratulations on 25 Years

running. He had work lined up, and along with renovations, provides the maintenance for several apartment and townhome developments in town.

Business, he says, “has been pretty darn good; pretty darn steady,” though he admits that a year later he’s still fine-tuning the business model and still learning.

Even now Brown occasionally calls his business coach from Community Futures and discusses ideas and looks for solutions. The whole program gave him an excellent starting point, and he’s grateful to have had the opportunity.

“Doing the work wasn’t the issue, the issue was learning the business.”

Bill Brown in front of one of the townhouse developments he maintains.

Congratulations to Community Futures on achieving this 25 year milestone

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Bill Brown became an entrepreneur out of necessity. He had plenty of skills and lots of experience, but due to his age he wasn’t being offered many opportunities.

Laid off from Rona when the Versatile Drive store announced its upcoming closure, Brown looked for work in his field but never seemed to get call backs. At 57, he says, employers were simply unwilling to give him a chance.

“They’re not going to tell you they’re discriminating against you, but you know darn well that’s what it is. You can have a very good resume and be very presentable, but they want somebody who is younger, who is probably going to be cheaper.”

S6 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops OCTOBER, 2013

CO M M U N I T Y F U T U R E S WorkBC Employment Services Centre, Merritt Community Futures Thompson Country (CFTC) was the successful proponent in partnership with Open Door Group and others to deliver the employment Program of BC (EPBC) services for the Merritt catchment area.

The WorkBC Employment Centres makes it easier for people to find work and provide stability for their families through a wide range of integrated employment services and supports. The new program replaces four provincially funded employment program and six programs funded under the CanadaBC Labour Market Development Agreement with an integrated approach for British Columbians needing services.

WorkBC Employment Service Centres offer clientoriented, integrated services and supports that are responsive, inclusive and accessible. The purpose of the centres is to support British Columians in getting - and keeping – a job as quickly as possible.

All unemployed British Columbians who are eligible to work in BC can access services.

Each WorkBC Employment Services Centre will ensure that everyone-including immigrants, youth, Aboriginal Peoples, Francophones, persons with a disability and people living in rural and remote areas – has access to the same supports and services no matter where they live in the province so they can get back to work quickly.

If you need additional help getting started on your job search staff at the centres can help you build your personal employment plan.

Each WorkBC Employment Services Centre will hold regular workshops for people interested in finding out more about getting ready for work and finding a job.

MERRITT JOB FAIR 2013 WorkBC Merritt hosted its 1st Annual Job Fair in September that resulted in 7 unemployed individuals obtaining employment.

The two day event held in the Merritt Civic Centre saw 24 Merritt businesses and agencies with booths on site and another 6 who accepted resumes despite they weren’t able to participate directly in the event.

Dancia Vere, Employment Advisory/Job Developer with Open Door Group, WorkBC Merritt stated, “we were very pleased with the turnout of 296 people attending.

This was our first one and the numbers of businesses participating and the number of people attending is really encouraging.”

Vendor feedback indicates that many believe they connected with future employees and were happy with the calibre of applicants who provided resumes.

The second annual job fair sponsored by WorkBC planning is well underway for the fall of 2014. If you need more information please contact Danica at (250) 378 5151 or Danica.vere@opendoorgroup.org

For some, depending on their needs and eligibility, short – and longer-term training may be needed to build the skills necessary for finding a job.

Staff will help you determine the workshops or training that would be helpful to you.

OPEN DOOR GROUP Working Closely With CFDC on Employment Services Open Door Group has been providing a full range of client-centered employment services to help people across British Columbia find – and keep – jobs.

We believe in the power of strong, collaborative partnerships within the communities we serve. This includes connecting with clients, families, the business community, other service providers, and all levels of government.

"We look forward to our continued partnership for years to come!”

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“Open Door Group has worked collaboratively with Community Futures Thompson Country since our establishment in Kamloops in 1998. Historically we were united in delivering self-employment services to individuals with disabilities in Kamloops and its surrounding communities. In 2012 our Partnership expanded to include the delivery of employment, including self-employment services It’s this partnership that allows us to be strategic and proactive in our delivery of employment and self-employment services in Kamloops, Chase, Merritt, Lillooet and its surrounding communities.

OCTOBER, 2013 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops S7

LOANS FOR BUSINESSES

CFTC provides entrepreneurs with small business loans where traditional financial institutions are unable to help. Loans are available for a new business start-up, business expansion, stabilizing an existing business or to purchase a business. A loans committee comprised of community volunteers are involved with the loan review process. This insures community input on loan approvals.

There are a number of good websites that have business plan templates and assistance to develop a plan that suits your business.

CFTC loans are offered with: • Flexible repayment schedules • No pre-payment penalty • Loans partnered with another financial institution an asset.

It is recommended that you seek financial support from your own bank before requesting funding from CFTC. Banks like to support their own clients and often a business loan can be supported by your bank in partnership with CFTC. CFTC in its 25 years has made loans to hundreds of businesses in the Thompson Country region. The maximum loan for CFTC is $ 150,000 but the majority of the loans are in the range of $ 55,000. CFTC loans must have a strong job creation component.

Women are encouraged to seek out information on loans from the Womenís Enterprise Centre in Kelowna at www. womensenterprise.ca.

Youth aged 18 to 34 years are encouraged to seek out loans from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation at www.cybf.ca.

For more information on CFTC loans and to access an application form go to www.communityfutures.net or call (250) 828 8772 or 1 877 335 2950 or info@communityfutures.net

CFTC would like to acknowledge the support and client referrals from the BDC over the past 25 years. Dozens of entrepreneurs have been supported by the BDC and CFTC alike.

Both CFTC and BDC can be proud of the ongoing regional economic development that these businesses have provided along with the many jobs that they have created.

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Acceptance for a Business Loan depends on: • Market potential and future economic viability of the business.

• Location of the business • Competent management • Local job creation.

• Experience related to the venture • Reasonable personal financial investment .• Ability to repay • Adequate security for the venture • Creation of a business plan.

S8 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops OCTOBER, 2013

Wishing continued success to MURRAY MITCHELL/THE DAILY NEWS

Denese and Kamau Metsimela, owner-operators of the Jam-Can Cafe on Twelfth Street celebrate a successful year thanks to the support from Community Futures.

Jam-Can Café spices up local restaurant scene

Ronald A. Tenisci, BSc., MBA, CA Mario Piva BComm., CA Dennis Piva, BBA, CA

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25 Years and Counting...

261A Victoria St., Kamloops, BC V2C 2A1 Ph: (250) 372-7655 Email: tp@teniscipiva.com www.teniscipiva.com

THANKS TO COMMUNITY FUTURES FOR SERVING KAMLOOPS AND AREA FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS.

K

amau and Denese Metsimela were directed toward Community FuturesThompson Country via Venture Kamloops. The couple had recently relocated from Jamaica to Kamloops and were starting their own business and searching help to do so.

They opened Jam-Can Café on Twelfth Street in August 2012, and did so with the support of CFTC. “They helped us by providing the start up capital,” explains Denese.

Jam-Can Café offers Jamaican and Canadian cuisine, with items including jerk chicken and pork and curried goat on the menu, as well as more traditional burgers and fries. The café serves breakfast, and Kamau, a trained chef, is always looking to put a Jamaican twist on the ordinary Canadian breakfast staples.

“We do eggs (Benedict), and we do one

“

Our sales have increased since we first started ... we have a good customer base and we’re getting lots of new customers through referrals.” with jerk spice. We also put rum in the hollandaise sauce,” says Denese with a laugh, adding that customers seem to love it.

The couple, who moved to Kamloops with their two children, are enjoying entrepreneurship so far, and are pleased with how well the café venture has turned out.

“Our sales have increased since we first started and we’re starting to notice trends in the market. We have a good customer base and we’re getting lots of new customers through referrals.”

Congratulations to our partner Community Futures

Celebrating 25 Years of Business in Kamloops

CONGRATULATIONS FROM YOUR BDC KAMLOOPS TEAM. With the support of our community partners, the Kamloops WorkBC Centre delivers a range of services:

BDC is the only bank dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs.

bdc.ca

• Job boards and postings • Career planning • Photocopying and scanning • Fully-staffed resource room • Employer services

For more information, please call (250) 377 3670 / (250) 434 9441 or email info@kamloopsesc.ca.

The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

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BDC Kamloops Business Centre 205 Victoria Street, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2A1 250 851-4900

• Job search supports • Employmentfocused workshops • Skill building • Personal coaching • Computer, Internet and phone access

OCTOBER, 2013 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops S9

Celebrating

25 Years

In

Kamloops

David Tombs and wife Andrea hoist the trophy they received for winning the Thrive Festival’s chef competition. Right, Tombs puts the finishing touches on a meal he is about to serve to guests.

Struggle made simple with help from CFTC Restaurants are notoriously difficult to get established, but Terra Restaurant in downtown Kamloops has achieved success

T

he restaurant business is, in many ways, one of the toughest to break in to and become established, which is why Terra Restaurant owners David and Andrea Tombs are grateful to have had the support of Community Futures Thompson Country.

The Tombs’ opened the Victoria Street restaurant in July 2011. David had worked as a chef — primarily in the hotel industry — for 20 years before making the leap and opening the restaurant, which was previously home to Bistro 3.2.6. Tombs suspects most chefs dream of opening their own restaurant but many shy away because of how difficult it can be to achieve success.

More than two years since opening Terra is an undeniable success story and accord-

“

Community futures was quite critical in our growth and development” ing to Tombs, much of that success is due in large part to the assistance provided by Community Futures.

“The first year in the restaurant business is a pretty good struggle. We spent lots of days scratching our heads and wondering if we’d made the right decisions,” he says.

“Community Futures was quite critical in our growth and development.”

Through CFTC, the couple conducted

market research and developed projections. They were provided with the tools they needed to complete a solid business plan and get off on the right foot.

That didn’t make opening the restaurant easy, Tombs says, but it certainly lessened the stress.

“Our experience (with CFTC) has been nothing short of stellar and without them it would have been unlikely we’d be here,” he says, explaining that business is doing better than they had expected.

“We’re experiencing really significant year on year growth beyond our projections.”

While the growth is great news, Tombs knows he’s “swimming upstream,” and recognizes the unique challenges faced by

independent restaurateurs.

“We want to continue to make inroads and continue to serve people great food,” he says detailing his future goals. Most importantly, he adds, he wants to continue educating local diners about the food they eat and where it comes from.

“This is a great food region — it has incredible resources and we are very fortunate,” he says, mentioning the grass fed beef and lamb available locally, as well as the abundance of organically grown produce.

Tombs hopes to share some of his success as a restaurateur with other new business owners, and sees it as his way of giving back to the organization that was so vital to his success.

:kÌAÀkÌÏkÌ" ÏÌ/ k° Kamloops' Newest Epic Fitness Centre

For 25 years the North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA) has been a positive leader and voice of business in Kamloops. As a BIA our job is to promote our business areas and work with all levels of government [V^HYKZ WVZP[P]L LJVUVTPJ KL]LSVWTLU[ ILH\[PÄJH[PVU WYVQLJ[Z HUK future planning. Through those types of initiatives, the NSBIA was a primary agent of the solid economic and social foundation that makes up the new North Shore we enjoy today. It’s that foundation, created over the past 25 years that we’ll build the next 25 years on!

Congratulations Community Futures

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on 25 Years of Building a stronger community

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S10 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops OCTOBER, 2013

Celebrating

25 Years

In

Kamloops

Above, At Your Service Catering owner Shawn Harnett hard at work in the kitchen at the new 4,000 square foot commercial kitchen and showroom on Twelfth Street during a recent customer appreciation night. At Your Service Catering found success through the support of CFTC.

Security vital when launching a new business CFTC provided At Your Service Catering owner Shawn Harnett peace of mind when he launched his company seven years ago

“

Without the help of community futures I probably wouldn’t have opened the business.” viding the food for more than 3,800 guests in attendance at the Tournament Capital Centre.

“Without the help of Community Futures I probably wouldn’t have opened the business,” says Harnett, who said the self-employment program provided him with the security he needed to ensure he’d be finan-

cially sound for a year after launching.

With a young family, having that level of security was vital to his decision to move forward. The self-employment program also gave him tools that would come in handy during the launch, including budgeting and forecasting.

Community Futures not only helped At Your Service Catering at the beginning, but it also provided assistance recently when Harnett needed financing to complete a 4,000 square foot facility built on Twelfth Street on the North Shore, and designed to house a large kitchen space as well as a showroom.

So much growth so quickly means he

can now afford to take a step back and delegate some tasks to his staff giving him back a measure of personal freedom, something many entrepreneurs go without.

Growth has been so significant that now Harnett has plans to scale back a bit, taking fewer catering jobs through the coming year in an effort to make sure the jobs the company does take on are a good fit with the types of services it provides.

The strategy, he says, is less of a focus on growth and putting more focus on meaningful work that is best suited for the business, while continuing to provide fantastic food and exceptional service at competitive prices.

City of Kamloops

You've Secured

25

Successful Years!

CONGRATULATIONS COMMUNITY FUTURES Photo by David Andrews

Congratulations on 25 Years!

The City of Kamloops is pleased to acknowledge the important contribution that Community Futures Thompson Country has made, both in the community and in the surrounding region over the past 25 years.

We're Here to Protect You!

The CFTC team has proven itself as a leader in this community, dedicated to the social and economic welfare of the region’s citizens through numerous initiatives and partnerships aimed at creating local economic opportunities and improving quality of life – two important elements of the City’s community vision.

Proud Members of

Over the years CFTC has added significant value to existing economic sectors, strengthened individual and community capacity and supported improvements to local infrastructure to help communities achieve their full economic potential.

Winner of Kamloops Chamber of Commerce 2010 "Business of the Year Award" & "Service Provider of the Year"

CFTC’s dedication to the growth and sustainability of this region has made them a longstanding, valuable partner of the City.

Congratulations to Community Futures Thompson Country on 25 years of outstanding service from the City of Kamloops!

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hawn Harnett of At Your Service Catering credits much of his company’s success to hard work and providing an excellent product at a competitive price.

But if it weren’t for Community Futures Thompson Country, Harnett wonders whether he would have even launched his business some seven years ago.

At Your Service started out as a one-man operation. Today, Harnett, formerly a professional poker player, is joined by 12 other full-time, regular staff, and up to 30 serving staff on busy weekends. The business has grown steadily year after year, and this summer At Your Service successfully catered the B.C. Seniors Games, pro-

www.kamloops.ca

OCTOBER, 2013 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops S11

Marcos Rueda’s business — importing Mexican-style ice cream bars — has never been better, and he got his start with the help of Community Futures Thompson Country.

Creating opportunity M

arcos Rueda came to Kamloops from Mexico City four years ago with his wife and three daughters.

Though he has a university degree, he was still finding it difficult to find meaningful work, so he decided to create his own.

Referred to Community Futures-Thompson Country through Kamloops Immigrant Services Society, Rueda received support in starting up his business and today he’s proud of his success.

Rueda imports Helados La Tapatia bars, a Mexican-style ice cream bar that is made with all natural ingredients. It took a year for Rueda and his wife to complete all the forms necessary to import the products from the United States, but he’s been bringing them into Canada for a year, and sales have been significant.

In July 2012 Rueda started out with three freezers in three local convenience stores. Today, he stocks 45 freezers in several communities, including Clearwater, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Chase, Vernon and Kelowna.

Community Futures has been a key fac-

tor in his success, he says.

“It was really important. As a new immigrant — as a new person in Canada — it’s really difficult for someone to believe in a project like this. I don’t get a bank account; I don’t get almost anything. They were the only institution that believed in this project and for that reason, thanks to Community Futures, I can make the business.”

The summer of 2013 has been a fantastic one for La Tapatia ice cream bars, says Rueda, adding that getting the product into the stores is his only challenge, as the quality of the ice-cream bar speaks for itself.

“I’m amazed about the result of the business. (La Tapatia) is a really healthy option and it’s really delicious.”

Future plans include expanding and adding more freezers, but first Rueda needs to find a delivery company that can take some of the responsibility off his shoulders.

“I made everything. Right now I’m the owner, the delivery driver, the accountant.

Right now I can be everything, but pretty soon I will need some help.”

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Import business is flourishing thanks to CFTC’s support

Thank You of Great Service in the Lower North Thompson.

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Here is to

S12 Supplement to The Daily News, Kamloops OCTOBER, 2013

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Colin & Lisa Part ners in Life & Sals a