The Rural Entrepreneurship Development (RED) Program is an initiative of Kootenay Employment Services and the Creston Valley-Kootenay Lake Economic Action Partnership that launched in July 2023. The program supports the development of new business ventures in communities across the Regional Districts of Central Kootenay, East Kootenay, and Kootenay Boundary.
Following the application and selection stages, successful candidates are enrolled in one of four streams:
• Child Care
• Green Technology
• Secondary Food Processing
• Rural Economic Diversification
In addition to sector-specific training and mentorship, participants benefit from intensive business coaching and one-on-one support from experts in the field of entrepreneurial development. RED Program participants are guided in developing their initial business concepts into full-fledged, well-researched business plans that are ready for investment and implementation.
Delivery of the RED Program is made possible by funds from the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP).
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