Programs > Business Development Services (BDS)

The Busines Management Training program is 24 sessions in length, based on 48 modules over an 8 week period.  Each module teaches the participant a component of the business plan.  Homework is assigned after each class, and is designed around the module or component just completed.  Participants must use what they have learned and complete that component using their own business idea.  Once all assignments have been completed, handed in for comments, and put together, they form a "draft" business plan.

Our program has been developed with learning barriers in mind, and has been rated as being accessible to those with a grade 8 education, and/or Level 4/5 for those with English as an additional language.

One-to-one consulting :

Once participants have completed the business management program, they meet with their assigned business counsellor to set up a schedule, and to outline goals to complete their business plan.  The time in which this stage is completed could be anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.

Aftercare:

Once the business plan is completed, and financing, if required, is approved, the client advances to our aftercare stage.  This includes a monthly meeting with the business counsellor after opening the business, to discuss business issues, problems or opportunities that may arise.

 

Community Worker and Ownership Program:

The Community and Worker Ownership Program (CWOP) provides assistance to groups of three or more people who are interested in starting or expanding a cooperative business as a means to create quality jobs for primarily low-income individuals.

CWOP provides assistance in the following areas: assessing group or organizational skills and resources; developing a business plan and assessing the viability of a business idea; designing organizational and operational structure; accessing loan and equity financing; provision of business management and professional development workshops; and ongoing financial review and strategic planning support for a minimum of two years after the launch of a business.

CWOP follows Community Economic Development Guidelines in developing business plans and adheres to democratic cooperative principles for the structural design of worker cooperatives.

Who can apply?

• groups of 3 or more (but not exceeding 50) people who are interested in starting or expanding a business within the City of Winnipeg
• worker cooperative businesses or people interested in starting a worker cooperative
• community organizations that want to start a business that will be owned by the community
• groups that have a business idea that will help create a stronger and healthier community
• people that want to create quality jobs for their community and will employ marginalized groups (i.e. low-income people, youth at risk, new Canadians, and persons with disabilities)

CWOP is aimed at groups, where at least 50% of the members of the co-op are at or below the program cut-off according to the chart below.

How to apply:

To qualify, you must...

• plan to base your business within Winnipeg
• be at or below the program's income cut-offs
• be available for training sessions and consulting meetings during regular business hours

The BDS Program is aimed at individuals who are living on low incomes.  Your combined household gross income must be at or below the program cut-off according to the following chart:

*based on 120% of Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Off (LICO)

Orientation sessions occur every second Thursday morning, from 9:30am to 12:30pm at our 80 Salter Street office.  Once you have attended an orientation, you may complete and submit an application to our program.

For more information, or to register for an orientation session, please call 927-9935 or email us.

• Asset Building Program

  back to Programs