The Nipissing First Nation Economic Development Department in partnership with the Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound is presenting a series of workshops for entrepreneurs, with the next one scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 7, from 12 to 1:30 p.m.
The workshop takes place at 520 A Couchie Memorial Drive. The final workshop takes place on Thursday, Dec. 14. Same place and time. The workshop on Dec. 7 focuses on sales and marketing, and Penny Tremblay will be the guest speaker. On the 14th, Jason Williams, with BDO Canada, will be on hand to discuss tax considerations.
The workshops are free for all members of Nipissing First Nation.
See: Nipissing First Nation launching chamber of commerce
Zack Lafleur, the Economic Development Officer for Nipissing First Nation, mentioned that the workshops help bring entrepreneurs together to strengthen their businesses.
“It’s really nice to see the community members come in with their business plans, help them fine-tune it, and have their dreams come into reality,” Lafleur said. Indeed, business has been booming these days on Nipissing First Nation, and at least two people are coming into the office with business plans each week.
The Business Leaders Round Table, which functions similarly to a chamber of commerce, is doing very well in the community, with many new members, Lafleur said. “We are trying to create our own kind of group,” he added, one that honours “our traditions and values” to help serve members of the First Nation.
“You see all of this development along Highway 17,” Lafleur said, “and I think that is a real testament to the evolving economic landscape of Nipissing, and I think we play a pretty vital role in nurturing that growth.”
The Bineshii Business Park on the highway between Eagle’s Nest and Young Forestry, has space for 35 commercial and light industrial lots, space which is also available to those who aren’t members of Nipissing First Nation.
“We’re really trying to diversify the businesses that are going in that park,” Lafleur said. He noted work is underway to increase the park size with 23 more lots “and these are going to be ready by spring, 2024.”
Each lot is about two acres, and open to all.
More business “creates a benefit to the whole community because it’s community enrichment, job creation and improved local services that we might not have had before,” Lafleur said.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
