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Community Futures Lethbridge Region hosted the 14th Annual Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge Awards recognizing the top 6 business plans submitted to compete for over $51,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.  Since the first CEC $366,000 (cash and in-kind prizes) has been awarded.

The 2018 Chinook Challenge saw 160+ participants with more than three thousand hours of business training provided to them by Community Futures’ and partners.  This year over 50 volunteers took part in training, screening and judging of business plans.

“It’s great to see the continued interest and support for this project.  The Challenge is an excellent way to motive and educate entrepreneurs and small business by giving them the tools they need to succeed.  The stats speak for themselves when you see so many participants taking part in our free training offered through this project.” says Darlene Sinclair, General Manager of Community Futures Lethbridge Region. “Congratulations to all the participants for investing in yourself and your business – I wish you continued success.  A special thanks to all our local sponsors for investing in our communities and local businesses.”

The Winners of the 14th annual Chinook challenge were announced this afternoon, sharing in the prizes of over $51,000. 

The $10,000 Grand prize for the General Stream
Doria and Doria Canada Immigration Consulting Inc. – referred to as DAD Immigration in short form – has a vision to help paint the Canadian cultural mosaic through comprehensive consultancy services built on trust. Rufa, Domingo and Frances focus on providing personalized services for clients who are seeking to sponsor relatives to come to Canada, foreign nationals who want visit, study, work, extend their stay or permanently immigrate to Canada and employers who are seeking to hire foreign workers.

The $10,000 Grand prize for the Technology Stream:

Full Circle Plastics has a vision of saving the environment one board at a time by using strategic partners to be a bigger solution and creating value out of products seen as waste. In the future, they will be strongly positioned in having outsourced raw material processing to several strategic partners so we can focus on our manufacturing.  Stephanie and Jonathan Beekman have set up a new production plant located in Nobleford, AB

Quote from David:
“What a pleasure to be involved with the Challenge - I am impressed with the tenacity of the entrepreneurs,” says David D’Silva Project Manager of the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge. “There are a lot of people out there who have potential and even an idea but lack the resources to bring it to fruition.  This unique program walks them through a discovery process and then helps them validate their ideas.  Between that and all the support from our amazing partners, this year’s competition was a huge success.”

“Even though the Challenge itself is complete, Community Futures will be there for all the participants and all small business owners in the area.” D’Silva said, “At the end of the day, our mandate is to support entrepreneurs and provide alternate financing when traditional routes are not an option – and we do that very well!”

The $2500 runner up winners were:

Patricia and Sarah Demes with Once Upon a Chocolate
Daniel Smith with The Burrows
Kenny and Amber Joss with KJ Concepts
Lynn Nichol with oneBand