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Community Futures Lambton and Aamjiwnaang First Nation are teaming up to offer free entrepreneurship workshops.
The eight-week Build Grow Expand workshop series covers business models, value creation, digital marketing, financial literacy, cash flow planning and business plan development, a release said.
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The Tuesday sessions, running Sept. 29 to Nov 17 at Aamjiwnaang’s Maawn Doosh Gumig community centre, are aimed at the First Nation’s business community, but are open to all, it said.
Stronger businesses make stronger communities, said Ashley Rusticus, with Community Futures Lambton, a federally funded agency supporting businesses and economic development.
“That’s why we open our doors every day, is to help . . . the businesses in the community, so that our community gets stronger,” she said.
It’s the agency’s first time teaming with Aamjiwnaang on entrepreneurship instruction, she said.
Community Futures has offered similar workshops before, with hands-on workbooks, exercises, and templates to apply directly to participants’ businesses and ideas, but not necessarily as a series, Rusticus said.
“This offers more of a streamlined pathway for either those are just dipping their toes into entrepreneurship, or who are entrepreneurs and looking to stabilize or grow their businesses,” Rusticus said. “We’re really pumped for this.”
Other area First Nation communities are invited to take part, and Tecumseh Community Futures is helping support the workshops, since Aamjiwnaang also falls in their service area, she said.
“They . . . will have a presence during the series as an additional Community Futures resource for participants,” Rusticus said.
“Development and delivery of the eight-week workshop series itself is being led collaboratively by Aamjiwnaang and Community Futures Lambton.”
Some of the 15 spots are still available, Rusticus said, and people can register by Sept. 25 at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/2Du4Gf4aAg, or contact Aamjiwnaang special projects liaison Joel Piché at jpiche@aamjiwnaang.ca, or 519-336-8410, ext. 242.
“Supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship means creating opportunities for people to build practical skills, explore their ideas and make informed decisions about the future of their businesses,” said Aamjiwnaang education outreach worker Judith Beauchamp.
“By bringing business learning directly into the community, this partnership can help entrepreneurs move forward with greater clarity and connect with resources that can support them along the way.”
