Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre
Ninety Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) operate in Western Canada; 13 of these are located in Saskatchewan. CFDCs are non-profit entities, governed by local volunteer boards comprised of directors representing a broad base of interests. These boards follow the philosophy that local decision-making and local development are the most effective means for people to shape their future, and that building entrepreneurial capacity is one of the keys to thriving, healthy communities. This bottom-up approach ensures that challenges are met by local solutions, by active, responsive communities. Western Economic Diversification Canada supports this process, and provides the funding for CFDCs to foster it.

Entrepreneurs who cannot get financing may access capital on friendly and flexible terms from their local CFDC. They can also receive a wide range of business support services. CFDC success is founded on a unique approach to lending that focuses on loan after-care, mentoring, and sound business advice.

The Community Futures Program supports community economic development by helping communities develop and diversify through:

1) Strategic Community Planning: working with communities to assess local problems, establish objectives, plan and implement strategies to develop human, institutional and physical infrastructures; entrepreneurism; employment; and the economy.

2) Business Services: delivering a range of business, counseling and information services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

3) Access to Capital: providing capital to assist existing businesses or to help entrepreneurs to create new businesses.

Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre
Beaver River Community Futures Development Corporation is a regional site of the Canada Saskatchewan Business Service Centre. The Corporation hosts an extensive resource library that includes audio and visual materials that cover a wide range of business topics. There are also individual work stations where clients can access the Internet to search online for statistics and information they may need for their business.

Community Access Program (CAP)
The Community Access Program is a Government of Canada initiative, administered by Industry Canada, that aims to provide Canadians with affordable public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it effectively. With the combined efforts of the federal, provincial and territorial governments, community groups, social agencies, libraries, schools, volunteer groups and the business community, CAP helps Canadians, wherever they live, take advantage of emerging opportunities in the new global knowledge-based economy. Under CAP, public locations like schools, libraries and community centres act as “on-ramps” to the Information Highway, and provide computer support and training.

Aboriginal Business Service Network (ABSN)
Beaver River is a ABSN member. This network focuses on three strategic streams. The first is community development that encompasses business development, entrepreneurship and the development of Co-operatives. The second focus is job creation and employment opportunities and the third focus is achieved through the development of strategic partnerships and alliances.

Self Employment Program
This program offers services and support to help eligible individuals to develop, implement and operate viable businesses.

The objectives of the program are:

1) To contribute to economic development and job creation through the development of business.
2) To meet clients needs for self-employment training.

The following participants are eligible;

a) a resident of Saskatchewan;
b) legally entitled to work in Canada;
c) at least 18 years of age and one year out of school;
d) able to attend and participate full time towards the development and implementation of the business;
e) persons with a potentially viable, self sustaining business idea which meets the criteria for eligible businesses; and
f) recipients of Saskatchewan Assistance Plan Benefits, the Provincial Training Allowance, Employment Insurance, or have received or been eligible for employment insurance, maternity or paternity benefits in the last three to five years (Reachback).

The criteria for eligibility is established by the Canada Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services offices.