Minister Ng announced investments in women entrepreneurs in British Columbia

On August 26, Minister Ng visited the HealthTech Innovation Hub in Surrey to celebrate Surrey’s innovation and start-up community and to share how the Government of Canada is helping businesses start up, scale up and access new markets. Minister Ng highlighted the Government of Canada’s recent investment in a $20-million project proposal to scale up companies in health and biosciences through the development of the CAN Health Network.

While in Surrey, Minister Ng announced Government of Canada investments of up to $1,845,000 to support women entrepreneurs in British Columbia. This funding is administered through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

The following women-owned or -led businesses will each receive up to $100,000 through the Women Entrepreneurship Fund to help them grow their business and reach new export markets:

• AJI Gourmet Products, located in Surrey
• Bar S Ventures, located in Merritt
• Big Bold Brand, located in North Vancouver
• BSlbio, located in Vancouver
• C-2000 Construction Ltd., located in Quesnel
• Chloë Angus Design, located in Vancouver
• Debrand Services, located in Delta
• Mine & Yours, located in Vancouver
• SweetGeorgia Yarns, located in Vancouver
• Werklab, located in Vancouver
• Trinity Aviation Services, located in Surrey

The Women Entrepreneurship Fund is part of the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), a $2-billion federal investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025. It is one of the ways that the Government of Canada is advancing women’s economic empowerment.

In addition, Minister Ng announced that Community Futures Fraser Fort George will receive $745,000 through the WES Ecosystem Fund (Regional Stream) to create and implement a business resource centre for women entrepreneurs in northern British Columbia. This will allow the organization to connect with 280 women, grow 30 businesses, and support 80 women in participating in sectors where they are traditionally under-represented.

Minister Ng ended her day by speaking at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver. She announced a federal investment of $500,000, on behalf of the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, in the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation to support the development of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre.

On August 27, Minister Ng announced an investment of $38 million from the Government of Canada in Futurpreneur to support young entrepreneurs in starting up and growing businesses and increasing their export capacity.

During her trip, Minister Ng also met with members of the Burnaby Board of Trade and local small business owners in Surrey, Vancouver, and Burnaby and spoke about what the Government of Canada is doing to support the success of small and medium-sized businesses.

source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada