Small businesses aren't a "small" part of our economy-they make up 98% of all businesses in Canada. That's why it's so important to support Canada's entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially women entrepreneurs, because an inclusive economy is a strong economy.
Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, kicked off Small Business Week 2023 by announcing that the École des entrepreneurs du Québec (EEQ) [French page] is receiving $2.7 million to help women entrepreneurs start a business and put their plans for growth into action.
This funding, coming through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund, will help support the EEQ's FAIR.E project, which consists of three transformational learning programs:
- Make the move to launch your business-for those who have an idea or project but don't know where to start
- Make your business thrive-for those facing challenges in reaching set targets and looking to increase their profits and customer base
- Make it grow-for those facing challenges in growing their business and moving from strategy to execution
The programs will serve up to 1,800 women in six provinces: Quebec, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The WES Ecosystem Fund supports projects that help close service gaps for women in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and give them access to the support they need. Since its launch in 2018, it has helped more than 10,000 women start new businesses and more than 12,000 women grow their existing ones.
