Women entrepreneurs in Western Canada seeking to grow or expand their businesses will benefit from a federal investment of $544,000 towards an initiative that will facilitate access to domestic and international supply chains.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

"Our Government's investment in the Access to Supply Chains program will benefit women entrepreneurs in western Canada by creating new opportunities for them to do business with large corporations across the country and around the world." said Minister Ambrose.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) funding is directed towards the development and delivery of the Access to Supply Chains program. The two-year pilot program will provide services leading to the certification of women entrepreneurs as diverse suppliers, which is expected to help enable them to access the domestic or international supply chains of large corporations that have adopted diverse supplier programs and contract with certified women owned businesses. These supply chains were previously inaccessible to most small, regionally-based women entrepreneurs in Western Canada.

“Women entrepreneurs are significant contributors to the economy, but face challenges in reaching networks and markets in order to grow their businesses.  The Access to Supply Chains program will enable them to bridge this gap and will expand their economic contributions in the western provinces,” said Tracey Scarlett, CEO of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs.

The initiative is being delivered by Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) offices in each of the four western provinces. WEI offices are non-profit organizations that provide a variety of unique products for women entrepreneurs, including advisory services, training options, networking opportunities and business financing.

“For women-run businesses, WEConnect exists to connect them to contract opportunities so they can grow their businesses.  Corporations are keen to be a part of, and to fund WEConnect because they want access to innovative suppliers who reflect the marketplace in which they are trying to do business,” said Betty Wood, WEConnect Canada’s head of certification and programs.

WEConnect Canada, which is partnering with WEI offices to deliver the program, is a Canadian non-profit association that qualifies women’s business enterprises, as well as trains, mentors and coaches businesswomen on how to expand their companies through partnerships with large corporations and governments.

Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.

For broadcast use

The Government of Canada is investing $544,000 towards launching an initiative that will provide women entrepreneurs in western Canada with enhanced opportunities to grow and expand their businesses by accessing domestic or international supply chains. Funding for the launch of the Access to Supply Chains program was announced today by Minister Rona Ambrose on behalf of Western Economic Diversification Minister Lynne Yelich.

For more information, contact:

Donna Kinley
Regional Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (780) 495-6892

Marcela Mandeville
Manager, Programs & External Relations
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)
Tel: (780) 422-1410

Diana Conconi
On behalf of WEConnect Canada
Tel : (416) 850 - 0123