Rural Business Advisor Program | Port McNeill Chamber

Rural Business Advisor

Working with Island Coast Economic Trust and the Province of British Columbia to support rural entrepreneurs.

BUSINESS PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS FOR MOUNT WADDINGTON /KWAK’WAKA’WAKW REGION & FORESTRY DEPENDANT COMMUNITIES

The Business Bridge Builder Program and Rural Business Advisor Roles are being launched to help businesses in need of planning and succession advice, connecting a new generation of entrepreneurs to emergent opportunities.

Watch this website for links and news pertaining to opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs - coming June 2023!

Business Bridge Builder Program

The Business Bridge Builder Program is funded by the Province’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) and connects people looking for ownership opportunities with businesses. Led by the PMDC and open at no cost to all North Island Businesses to participate in. It fosters business, community, and Indigenous relationships in order to expand or sell successful businesses on the North Island/Kwakwaka'wakw Territory. Key activities include making connections between people interested in business sale and succession, fostering mentorship opportunities between entrepreneurs, facilitating professional services and training programs that will encourage business sales, succession, employment, and promoting on-the-job training programs and services. It works in partnership with organizations such as Community Futures Mount Waddington, ‘Namgis Economic Development Corporation, the Town of Port McNeill, Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce, Venture Connect, and many others.

Rural Advisor Program

The Rural Advisor Program is funded by Island Coast Economic Trust (ICET) and provides one-to-one advice and navigation support to existing businesses, guiding access to services and funding. The Rural Business Advisor is up to date with grants, programs, and funding, and understands the pressures on small and medium businesses in the current economy. This advisory work is done from a confidential, pragmatic, business forward perspective – run by businesspeople for businesspeople – which is a model that values the entrepreneurial time and efforts that are poured into private business, the lifeblood of our community economy.

"There is no road map for Forestry-dependant communities in transition. This pragmatic and meaningful work is being done to provide opportunity and help evolve the equitable business and community landscape, together."