Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (WELF)
| WEOC Selected as Major Loan Fund Delivery Organization |
| On March 8, 2022 – International Women’s Day – in downtown Toronto, WEOC CEO Alison Kirkland joined leaders from the women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, for a major announcement about the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (WELF). We are thrilled to share that WEOC was nameds a key delivery organization for the fund and is launching the WEOC National Loan Program! This new initiative seeks to provide smaller amounts of affordable financing to women entrepreneurs, particularly for start-ups, underrepresented groups or sole proprietorships which may experience more difficulty in accessing financing. |
“I thank the Government of Canada for its continued investment in women entrepreneurs through the establishment of the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund. I know that this fund will enable the growth of small and medium sized businesses, which are the backbone of the Canadian economy. I am confident that the loans program established by WEOC will support women entrepreneurs both by providing access to much needed funding, as well as the wrap-around supports that we know ensure long-term success.” – Alison Kirkland, CEO, WEOC WEOC has already established partnerships with a number of women’s enterprise organizations across the country and is seeking additional partners in all regions. If you are interested in becoming a lending partner, or want to know more about the program email loans@weoc.ca. |
Business Mentor & CEO at Grow Vantage & Ask For Directions Training
Business Mentor at Ask For Directions Training and Grow Vantage
Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 6,500 coaching and training sessions in-person and online. Through Ask For Directions Training, her entrepreneurial training program (and parent company Grow Vantage), and as a business coach, she works with start-ups who are new (or who have lost traction) to design, launch and grow their businesses. Along with 20 other expert instructors she teaches strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, as well as practical techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, everything entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, and avoid the costly mistakes they can't even see coming - that lead to delays in growth and getting stuck.
Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 6,500 coaching and training sessions in-person and online. Through Ask For Directions Training, her entrepreneurial training program (and parent company Grow Vantage), and as a business coach, she works with start-ups who are new (or who have lost traction) to design, launch and grow their businesses. Along with 20 other expert instructors she teaches strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, as well as practical techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, everything entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, and avoid the costly mistakes they can't even see coming - that lead to delays in growth and getting stuck.
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