Manitoba’s provincial agriculture department plans to help cover some costs of business startups for young Aboriginal people in rural and northern communities.
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) announced the Young Rural Aboriginal Entrepreneur Initiative on Tuesday at the first general meeting of the Indian Agriculture Council of Manitoba at Long Plain.
The new initiative is meant to complement
Aboriginal business startup programs available through other
agencies, by supporting program participants once they’ve
completed the training provided, the province said.
“Many young Aboriginal people in rural and northern communities
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and initiative to develop a business opportunity but need the
planning and business-management skills necessary to launch an
enterprise,” Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk said in a release.
Potential participants have “ideas and experience in a
variety of activities that could translate into business
opportunities such as providing services for tourists, producing
non-timber forest products like medicinal herbs and unique
naturally-occurring food products, and manufacturing products
from local raw materials,” she said.
The province’s program is expected to also help community organizations cover the costs of educational activities and resource
materials aimed at young, rural and northern Aboriginal
people.
It’s expected that about 300 people will participate in the program over the next three years, the province said. Information and application forms are available at MAFRI’s GO offices throughout the province.