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Blueprint Projects

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Theme 7: Improving Financial and Growth Opportunities for Women Business Owners

Project Goal

To strengthen the participation of women as owners of small and medium-sized businesses.

Project Objective

To develop mechanisms that increase women entrepreneurs' access to business development and support programs.

Description

This 24-month project will develop/adapt innovative programs and other supports to increase growth opportunities for women owners of small and medium-sized businesses, including immigrant and Aboriginal women. A gender-based analysis of programming and planning will assist participants in their efforts to ensure that business development programs and other supports respond to the specific needs of women entrepreneurs, including those from immigrant and Aboriginal communities. This project will explore practical ways to address and overcome these and other barriers to success for women business owners.

Funding Available

Up to $300,000 for a 24-month project.

Key Activities

Plan project and adapt to specific local or target population needs.
- Conduct a gender-based analysis to:
  - ensure that business development programs and other supports respond to the specific needs of women entrepreneurs.
  - identify and address the barriers to women's participation in small and medium-sized businesses.
- Identify and consult potential allies, stakeholders or project partners (e.g. business owners, chambers of commerce, business associations, financial institutions, government departments).
- Secure the participation of women entrepreneurs and help women identify their priorities and strategies.
Develop/adapt innovative business development programs and other supports (resources, policies, models and/or strategies) to address the issues identified. For example,
- recommendations from the gender-based analysis to improve business development programs and other supports.
- supports for stakeholders to better respond to women's specific entrepreneurial needs.
Delivery and implementation
- Work with women entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to deliver resources and actions that increase women's participation in small and medium-sized businesses and develop their capacity to act on priorities.
- Network and engage with allies and other organizations.
- Pilot tools and approaches to ensure their effectiveness.
Evaluate the project
Share results

Planned Results

Project participants can identify the institutional and other barriers to growth opportunities for women owners of small and medium-sized businesses.
Stakeholders have increased awareness of these barriers.
Effective business development programs and other supports have been identified that respond to the specific needs of women entrepreneurs.
Project participants have increased opportunities for growth as small and medium-sized business owners.
Stakeholders have taken specific actions to increase the ability of women owners of small and medium-sized businesses to access growth opportunities.

Project Deliverables (after approval)

Month 4

Detailed work plan and budget, list of project allies and partners, results management framework, evaluation plan.

Month 12

Interim report and strategy to share knowledge.

Month 24

Final report and evaluation.