Program Background

WD founded the WEI in 1994 through a contribution agreement with a centre in each province. The WEI was begun in order to address the challenges facing women entrepreneurs by developing a loan fund administered by each WEI centre. WD provides annual operational funding and a loan fund to each WEI organization

The WEI comprises four incorporated not-for-profit organizations, located in Kelowna, Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, which operate at arms-length from government, under the direction of local boards of directors. The WEI organizations help women entrepreneurs face challenges and succeed by providing customized services such as access to financing, education and training, business advice, loan aftercare, information, networking and mentoring. The mandate of the WEI is to encourage the establishment and growth of women-owned and controlled business, encourage self-employment and business development, and to promote economic equality between men and women. Each provincial organization is organized and run uniquely to reflect the differing services existing for women entrepreneurs in each province.

In 2006-2007, WD provided core operational support of $3.9 million to the four WEI organizations, which reported responding to over 51,000 business information inquiries and providing almost 10,000 business advisory appointments and training services for over 3,600 clients.

An evaluation of the WEI undertaken in 2004 reported that by May 31, 2004, WEI services and loans leveraged an additional $33.1 million in support for women entrepreneurs. Focus group participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with the WEI organizations' service delivery. An impact study undertaken in 2002 reported economic impacts of 9:1 (i.e., $22.4 million in loans resulted in approximately $200 million of business).