Business support available for rural areas, businesses

Community Futures Wild Rose has $2.4 million in loan money available to small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural areas around Strathmore.
Over the past 30-plus years, Community Futures Wild Rose has doled out over $13 million in business loans. The non-profit organization is staffed by business professionals and guided by a volunteer board of directors.
“You are one of our shareholders,” said Petrovich during a presentation to Strathmore town council. “We are not here so much to raise our profile, but to let you know what we can do for you.”
Petrovich said the organization has made a positive impact in the region and showed the success rate of businesses utilizing Community Futures Wild Rose.
The organization provides a range of small business services and business management tools for people wanting to start, expand, franchise or sell a business. They also run a number of specialized business programs, organize business events and work with community and business leaders to foster rural economic growth.
“Community economic development is an approach where community members come together, take collective action and generate solutions for common problems at a grass roots level,” said Gerbrandt.
Communities in the Wheatland County area have utilized services the organization offers in areas such as capacity building, labour marketing, tourism, board and committee building, strategic planning, business revitalization, business training and surveys, and community beautification.
“We don’t always want do the work for them. We train, educate and give them the knowledge so that they can take over and drive those initiatives for themselves,” said Gerbrandt.
She noted they have worked with communities to gain funds for museums, seniors outreach programs, cultural projects and beautification of store fronts. “A lot of people don’t realize that it is there, and they can access it to help with community projects.”
“I think our biggest challenge is letting people know what we do, so we can support them,” added Petrovich. “Our services are free, except for the loans, and we work very hard at promoting your community and economy. We are here to help, not to make a profit ourselves.”