Released on May 21, 1999
Minister responsible for the Status of Women Joanne Crofford, onbehalf of Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice
MacKinnon, today recognized the Regina Economic Development
Co-operative for Women for its job creation record through the Small
Business Loans Association (SBLA) program.
The co-operative has created 37 new jobs and maintained an additional
17 jobs. During 1998, small businesses supported by the SBLA program
created more than 360 jobs and maintained over 565 more, mostly in
rural communities. This brought the total number of jobs created and
maintained since the program began to almost 12,800.
Crofford presented a job creation certificate, on behalf of MacKinnon,
to Beth Traynor, the co-operative's chairperson.
"I am very pleased to honour Regina Economic Development Co-operative
for Women this way," Crofford said. "SBLAs are an integral part of
the province's focus on investing at the community level, working with
people to create jobs and opportunities in their own area.
"This co-operative has an outstanding record not only through its
loans to women entrepreneurs, but also in its support to home-based
businesses and in the mentoring its members have offered to Regina
businesswomen."
Examples of local businesses assisted by SBLA loans include
health-related service industries, home improvement operations
and retail businesses.
Under the SBLA program, the government provides funding to local
SBLA organizations. In turn, SBLAs provide loans to businesses
that have experienced difficulty accessing financing through
traditional means.
Improvements to the program announced in this year's provincial
budget include an increase in each SBLA's interest-free revolving
line of credit from $50,000 to $100,000. As well, an SBLA can
now make loans to a maximum of $10,000, up from $5,000.
"The job creation efforts of the Regina Economic Development
Co-operative for Women are a great example of what can be
accomplished when the government and communities work in
partnership," Crofford said. "By working in partnership, the
SBLAs are helping businesses grow -- building our economy,
creating jobs and keeping our province healthy and strong."
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For more information, contact:
Bob Ellis
Economic and Co-operative Development
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-1691