SOAR recipient Rich Francis speaking with SREDA president Alex Fallon. Photo courtesy of Joel Willick.
A Saskatoon economic development firm unveiled two recipients of a new Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Support Program this morning.
Earlier this month, the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority launched a program called SOAR.
The program gives Aboriginal entrepreneurs financial support and connects them with mentors and services in the community.
“We all know how difficult it is to start and grow your own business, and mentorship is one tool to take entrepreneurs to another level,” said SREDA President Alex Fallon. “We are really excited about this program, we think it is really going to help local entrepreneurs and create jobs in the local economy.”
Today, SREDA announced the first two recipients of the new SOAR program.
Heather Abbey, the founder of shopindig.ca, an online marketplace for Indigenous artisans, and Rich Francis, owner of Seventh Fire Indigenous Cuisine, are the first two recipients.
“I am incredibly thankful and grateful to be one of the recipients of this mentorship,” said Heather Abbey. “It is so crucial in these first few years to learn where to go and not to go and to move forward in a good way in the Saskatchewan economy.”
“We are in a really exciting time as Aboriginal cuisine is alive and well right now through our lens and our story,” said Rich Francis.
The recipients were chosen through a Facebook context where Aboriginal business owners described how they would benefit from the program.