February 7, 2011
Just Launched: The Social Economy Space
The Social Economy and Sustainability Research Network recently launched the Social Economy Space, a new online database. The Social Economy Space is designed to promote the widest possible dissemination by collecting and preserving intellectual output written by both academics and practitioners, and ensuring that it has high visibility and accessibility. This site collects digital documents or links directly to such materials. Here you will find a full document and not just a reference to it.
Click here to access the Social Economy Space
December 15, 2009
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL: Former pawn shop
reborn as new home of loan fund
SAINT JOHN - A former pawn shop at 133 Prince Edward Street has taken on a new look and a new life as the office for the Saint John Community Loan Fund.
On Monday Health Minister Mary Schryer, Supply and Services Minister Ed Doherty and Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre joined about 30 people to celebrate the building's rebirth as an office at street level with two apartments on the upper floors.
"I have a great deal of admiration for the staff, who several years ago at a brainstorming session told us we should have a building," said Louise Béland, president of the board of directors of the community loan fund. "We all recoiled in horror and said we couldn't afford it, but only a few years later here we are in new offices."
An offshoot of the Human Development Council, the fund is a micro lending agency that helps individuals with business loans, employment loans, shelter loans, financial literacy training and leadership training.
April 8, 2008
partnership with nonprofits
Based on the findings in Blueprint for Action, a report from the premier's taskforce on nonprofits, the New Brunswick provincial government released Delivering on the Blueprint, a response that outlines increased partnership between the government and the nonprofit sector.Carmel Robichaud, the minister responsible for community nonprofit organizations, said the new relationship will ensure that groups receive stable, multi-year funding; work to reduce red tape and supplies costs; and build better communications between government and nonprofit groups. The report also makes recommendations for affordable liability insurance, access to health and pension plans, access to government rates for phone and utilities services, and a new trust fund for nonprofits comprised of unclaimed lottery winnings. For more information on the recommendations outlined in the report, visit: www.gnb.ca.
March 25, 2008
CCEDNet ED Rupert Downing to Address
ADAPT Council AGM
CCEDNet's Executive Director, Rupert Downing, is in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island to speak at the ADAPT Council's AGM/Conference (Thursday 27th, March at the Delta Prince Edward hotel). There'll be a reception at the Queen Street Commons, 224 Queen St, on Friday afternoon from noon to 3 p.m. for CCEDNet members, and for others interested in Public Policy approaches to CED. The reception offers an opportunity to network and meet/greet over drinks and snacks. All CED practitioners and allies are welcome.
February 4, 2008
A one-time grant to organizations working in self-employment or women in trades and technology programs, or social purpose enterprises, with low-income women.
Deadline for applications is February 29, 2008.
For more info please call or email Nila Gupta, Manager - Economic Development Collaborative Fund
(416) 365-1444 ext. 231 1-888-293-4483
ngupta@canadianwomen.org
Jan. 21, 2008
The Halifax Farmers' Market is about to take the wraps off its $2.5-million community investment program.
Processing of investments ranging from $50 to $50,000 is set to begin within the week, market manager Fred Kilcup said Thursday as the organization moved forward with a much-anticipated $10-million redevelopment effort.
"We'll be making a formal announcement next week and have evidence to suggest the offering will be well-received," said the manager.
"We've got 300 people on a list of names . . . who were waiting for the necessary approvals. We're confident community support will allow us to move ahead quickly."
He said investors in the proposed new Seaport Farmers' Market at Pier 20 on the Halifax waterfront will enjoy a provincial tax credit while supporting the local food movement and helping to revitalize the city's downtown core with a people-friendly development that will operate seven days a week.
The market manager said advance interest shows the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market project will quickly achieve its community investment objectives and, coupled with a $2.25-million contribution from the province that was secured last year, should hopefully be on the way toward a fall 2008 opening. The fallback date is spring 2009.
Anybody interested in the market project and its state-of-the-art green features is invited to invest in the community economic development investment fund, recently approved by the Nova Scotia Securities Commission. But Mr. Kilcup said that to truly take advantage of the RRSP benefits of investing in the fund, a minimum investment of $5,000 would be required to cover associated administration fees and maximize the return.
Nova Scotia is the only province offering this fund to encourage local investment. Most money Nova Scotians invest in RRSPs goes out of the province.
The province says that people who buy units in the fund will get a 30 per cent provincial tax credit. Shares are also eligible for self-directed RRSPs and additional tax reductions.
Mr. Kilcup said the market, a co-operative controlled by 70 shareholders, will have several staffers handling inquiries and providing details on available tax credits when shares become available after the formal announcement of the offering.
The farmers' market public offering of $2.5 million is the largest among 41 similar community investment funds in Nova Scotia that among them manage about $25 million in assets. Although average individual investments in these funds were about $10,000, Mr. Kilcup said lesser amounts will be welcomed at the market.
"If you put in $1,000, you will still get your 30 per cent tax credit," he said.
The market manager said talks about additional financial support for the project are continuing with Halifax Regional Municipality and with Ottawa through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
An ambitious plan to move the market from its current location in the Keith's Brewery complex on Lower Water Street was announced in June last year. The new Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market will feature lots of open space and a host of green features, such as nine wind turbines, solar collectors and a rooftop sustainable garden.
Dec. 19, 2007
Advanced Co-op Developer Training in Winnipeg and Moncton
Devco, a British Columbia-based consulting workers' co-op with many years of experience, is pleased to announce the launch in February, 2008 of an Advanced Co-op Developer Training session. This session builds on the very successful and well-received Introductory Co-op Development Training that Devco has delivered since 1994 in a number of locations in Canada.
This three-day session will be delivered in Winnipeg on Feb 20-22 and in Moncton on Feb 26-28.
A detailed outline is posted here.
For further detail about the project in general, please contact Melanie Conn (melanie at devco.coop) or Marty Frost (marty at devco.coop). For information about the Manitoba session, please contact Cindy Coker at (cindy at seedwinnipeg.ca)
