Alberta Women Entrepreneurs

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Women play a vital role by creating and operating small businesses across Canada, yet they often face many barriers and challenges. To break down these barriers, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) established the Women's Enterprise Initiative (WEI) to provide business information and services to women entrepreneurs in the four western provinces.

The Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) opened its doors in 1995 and helps women entrepreneurs across Alberta realize success. The aim is to provide Alberta women with services to build their business experience and strengthen their contribution to Alberta's economy.

One of the WEI's unique features is the business loan fund. The fund offers loans of up to $100,000 to help women start or grow their business.

AWE provides women entrepreneurs with services in:

• Financing
• One-on-one business advising
• Skills development and networking opportunities
• Connections to other resources

Business advising services are provided in-person, by telephone, fax, or electronically throughout the Province.

In the past five years, AWE has provided 9,050 business advisory services to women entrepreneurs in Alberta such as assistance with business planning, one-on-one counselling and business orientation. Furthermore, AWE has delivered 516 training and skills development sessions through seminars and workshops to 5,110 clients covering topics such as marketing, business start up and planning, and financial management. Finally, 126 direct financing capital loans to women-owned businesses totalling $4,344,778 have been approved by AWE creating or maintaining 423 jobs in Alberta.

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs is a member of the Western Canada Business Service Network and is supported by Western Economic Diversification Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Edmonton office
100, 10237 – 104 Street
Edmonton, AB  T5J 1B1

Telephone: (780) 422-7784
Toll free: 1 800 713-3558
Fax: (780) 422-0756

Calgary office
370, 1202 Centre Street S.E.
Calgary, Alberta T2G 5A5

Telephone: (403) 777-4250
Toll free: 1 800 713-3558
Fax: (403) 777-4258