CYBF Welcomes New Community Partner Southwest Alberta Community Loan Fund
LETHBRIDGE, AB, September 9, 2011 – The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is pleased to welcome Southwest Alberta Community Loan Fund (SWACLF) to its network of community partners. To celebrate SWACLF’s support for youth entrepreneurship and commitment in assisting CYBF, an official partnership launch will be held on Friday, September 9th, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the Lethbridge Lodge Hotel and Conference Centre, Cedar Ballroom, 320 Scenic Drive South. Light refreshments will be served.
CYBF, Canada’s go-to place for youth entrepreneurship, relies on its community partners (CPs) to act as local representatives in their communities. CPs offer guidance and resources to budding entrepreneurs in the business planning stage and beyond. CPs bring together Loan Review Committees to support the selection of young entrepreneurs for CYBF programs and they enlist the help of community business leaders to volunteer as mentors. Together, CYBF and CPs work to ensure young, passionate entrepreneurs have the tools and resources they need to be successful in Canada and beyond.
“The Canadian Youth Business Foundation is thrilled to partner with the Southwest Alberta Community Loan Fund,” said Christi Millar, Director, CYBF Alberta. “This partnership will provide invaluable support to young entrepreneurs in the Lethbridge region by helping them start businesses and create jobs. Not only will this strengthen the local economy, it will provide young people with fulfilling opportunities and encourage them to remain in the communities they grew up in.”
““The Southwest Alberta Community Loan Fund is working to provide opportunities for Lethbridge and area entrepreneurs,” said Steve Pedersen, Executive Director, Southwest Alberta Community Loan Fund. “We are pleased to be able to work with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation to offer funding and mentoring to youth entrepreneurs living in the region. Many young people have great ideas and are ready to go – all they lack is a bit of experience and some working capital. With the mentoring and microloans available through this partnership, we look forward to seeing youth entrepreneurship flourish in our region!”
Southwest Alberta Community Loan Fund helps young professionals in central Alberta develop skills, knowledge and networks by offering relevant and informative events, presentations and courses. It joins the roster of the more than 170 CYBF community partners in cities within all 13 Canadian provinces and territories.
Economic development in Lethbridge has a significant impact on Alberta’s economy as a whole. To support aspiring young entrepreneurs in this city, CYBF will also begin hosting a six-part business planning workshop series, in partnership with Community Futures Lethbridge Region, from September 27th to October 13th, to give them the tools they need to start their own businesses. More information can be found at www.cybf.ca/partners/goa.
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About the Canadian Youth Business Foundation – Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the ‘go to’ place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing Canada’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring. We help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca
CYBF Media Contact:
Rachel Azagury
Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications
Email: razagury@cybf.ca
Phone: 416-408-2923 x2111
Cell: 647-834-2923
