Sto:lo Community Futures

BCSS

Business Loans

Community Economic Development

The Sto:lo Community Futures is a federally funded, not-for-profit organization owned by the Sto:lo Nation Society of B.C. Sto:lo Community Futures celebrates Sto:lo cultural and historical values by building on individual and community strengths and providing a wide range of programs to First Nations entrepreneurs.
The SCF has developed several plans and programs in sectors such as Tourism, Technology, Youth, Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Business Lending.

Tourism

Sto:lo Tourism Commission. The Sto:lo Community Futures Tourism Commission is working towards establishing and expanding sustainable Sto:lo owned and operated tourism businesses. The Sto:lo Tourism Commission supports the bid for the 2008 North American Indigenous Games and participation in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Both events will bring prosperity to both the entire region and the Sto:lo in particular.
The Sto:lo Tourism Commission plans include one stop marketing for Sto:lo tourism destinations and services, new tourism training programs, a Sto:lo tourism cultural strategy, participation in the Chilliwack 2004 Travel and Adventure Guide, and a new website for Sto:lo tourism with e-business capacity and new marketing materials.

Technology

Technology Centre/Arts Cultural Centre. The SCF is working on a plan to implement a tourism and cultural strategy that includes the establishment of a Technology Centre/Arts Cultural Centre. The Sto:lo Community Futures Technology Centre/Arts Centre Committee is directing a feasibility study and seeking funding for a central Sto:lo arts, cultural and incubator for business. Such a facility would house emerging Sto:lo businesses, craftsmen and artists under a single roof. It would provide space and leasing arrangements, including a studio, manufacturing, retail and professional kitchen space. The incubator will offer entrepreneurs advice and support services, including professional management, assistance with capital, legal advice, technical consulting, marketing, accounting services. The Centre will offer services to aboriginal businesses outside the facility. The Technology Centre/Arts Cultural Centre will generate employment and growth within the Sto:lo community.

Youth

Youth Steering Committee. The Sto:lo Community Futures has established a Youth Steering Committee to work on implementing a youth entrepreneur program to encourage young Sto:lo to start their own businesses. The program consists of a business plan competition for Sto:lo youth, ages 15 to 18, who are currently enrolled in high schools throughout Sto:lo territory, a Sto:lo Venture Quest Youth Conference in 2004, a Sto:lo Business Camp for youth during spring break in March 2004. In addition, there will be a program to support youth summer businesses. The elements of the summer program will include micro-loans, business counselling and mentoring.

Agriculture

The Sto:lo Nation hosts a highly successful agricultural conference every year. The conference brings together leaders, farmers, value-added producers and interested stakeholders. Under utilized land and competitive agricultural leases are major opportunities for Sto:lo bands. While there are some agricultural operations within Sto:lo territory, including a thriving sheep farm on Seabird Island and other Reserve lands, the potential for more farming opportunities, value-added agricultural industries and agricultural tourism is considerable. The Sto:lo Community Futures is also exploring establishing a Sto:lo brand marketing strategy.

Forestry

Mill closures and forestry job losses resulting from the softwood tariffs levelled by the U.S in May 2002 have hit the Sto:lo hard. Approximately 1,200 forestry industry jobs vanished in the Lower Mainland and of those, an estimated 300 jobs were lost to the Sto:lo. This represents about seven per cent of all the job losses in B.C., based on total job losses in the province. Since forestry and fishing are traditional fields of employment for many Sto:lo, the Sto:lo Community Futures is working on the following plans:

applying for funding under the federal government’s Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (SICEAI),
working towards increased First Nations land tenure and revenue sharing under the First Nations Forestry Fund and focusing on developing Sto:lo-owned value-added forestry operations.

Fisheries

A traditional activity for The People of the River, the fishery is subject to a Department of Fisheries regulatory scheme that limits opportunities for Sto:lo based on access to fish. A ban on the sale of salmon limit Sto:lo opportunities for self-sufficiency.
Sto:lo Community Futures is working with the Sto:lo Nation Society to get funding under the Federal Government’s Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (SICEAI) to set up a Sto:lo Salmon Marketing Commission. However, the true potential of the fishery will only be realized when the restrictive regulatory regime is reconciled with the economic aspirations of the Sto:lo in the fishery.

Business Lending

The Sto:lo Community Futures Lending Program gives financial assistance to new and existing Aboriginal businesses and entrepreneurs in Sto:lo territory. This Program encourages employment, skill development and business growth. All approved loan applications must meet established Sto:lo Community Futures lending criteria and are subject to a due diligence review. Sto:lo Community Futures works in cooperation with other funding sources to create an approach that best suits their clients.