Business Links
A small business entrepreneur's time is a valuable commodity. At Victoria Connects we understand this and have compiled a "most requested" list of federal, provincial, municipal, and private sector business resource links in order to SAVE YOU TIME and assist you with the building of your successful enterprise.
Victoria Connects "Most Requested" Business Resource Links
A.B.L.E.D. (Advice and Business Loans for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities) - ABLED is a new joint initiative between Coast Capital Savings (formerly Pacific Coast Savings Credit Union) and Western Economic Diversification. The primary objective is to help entrepreneurs with disabilities start or expand their businesses.
Aboriginal Business Canada - Since 1989, ABORIGINAL BUSINESS CANADA has worked with over 5,000 firms, providing financial and non-funded support. Program investments of over $300 million have led to an infusion of almost a billion dollars into the Aboriginal private sector and encouraged a renaissance in Aboriginal business. http://abc-eac.ic.gc.ca
B.C. Media Guide - The government of British Columbia maintains a database of print and electronic media organizations. This data is used to produce a guide book, which is published annually. www.gov.bc.ca/mediaguide.html
Better Business Bureau of Victoria - The Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island is an independent, self-governing, non-profit organization established by members of our business community. Its aim is to encourage self-regulation, to promote truth in advertising and selling and it is dedicated to the building and preservation of public confidence in legitimate business.
www.bbbvanisland.orgBusiness Development Bank of Canada - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is Canada's small business bank. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering timely and relevant financial and management services, with a particular focus on the emerging and exporting sectors of the economy. www.bdc.ca
Business Investment Branch, Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise - supports the development of
small businesses through the delivery of incentive programs
for equity financing.Business Victoria - Welcome to the Greater Victoria Economic Development Commission, better known locally as Business Victoria. We aim to provide a "one-stop" site providing relevant information about the economy of the Greater Victoria Region so that you can make better business decisions. www.businessvictoria.net
Canada/BC Business Service Society - The Canada-British Columbia Business Service Centre is a comprehensive orientation service to information on all business-related topics pertinent to entrepreneurs, small businesses and start-up companies. www.smallbusinessbc.ca
Canadian Commercial Corporation - CCC is a unique export sales agency, wholly owned by the Government of Canada, with a broad legislated mandate to assist in the development of trade between Canada and other nations. CCC helps Canadian exporters win sales in government and private-sector markets around the world, through their unique government-backed guarantee of contract performance. www.ccc.ca
Canada Small Business Financing Program - The Canada Small Business Financing program is a loan guarantee program delivered by financial institutions across Canada. We therefore encourage you to communicate directly with the financial institution of your choice to discuss how this program can respond to your specific financial requirements.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mangb/smallbus/engdoc/sbla.htmlCanadian Youth Business Foundation - The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (Youth Business) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping enterprising young people achieve their business dreams. Assisting young entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground, Youth Business offers programs and services that allow them to achieve economic independence, develop self-confidence, and fulfill their goals of self-employment. www.cybf.ca
CFDC (Community Futures Development Corp.) - The CFDCs foster local entrepreneurship, promote, coordinate and implement a variety of community development initiatives within their respective communities. The CFDCs offer a variety of entrepreneurial programs, business counseling, loan programs and business information to community members interested in expanding or starting their own businesses. www.communityfutures.ca/provincial/bc
Government Agents of BC - One-stop solutions are a Government Agent tradition. In fact, Government Agents assist British Columbians with millions of transactions and customer inquiries every year at 59 locations throughout the province. For convenient payments, registrations, forms, information and more, contact the Government Agents office nearest you. www.governmentagents.gov.bc.ca
Government of Canada - The Canada Site - the Government of Canada's Web site - is the primary Internet gateway to information about Canada and about the Government of Canada and its programs, services and initiatives. www.gc.ca
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce - As the voice of business in the Victoria area, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce represents business people in the Capital Region working together for the economic and social well-being of the community. http://www.victoriachamber.ca/
Import and Export - (Team Canada Inc) Canada's most comprehensive online source for information on doing business abroad. It includes useful online tools, a comprehensive search function and direct access to the best export information and services available. (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) Information on legal requirements and procedures for Canadian businesses who import goods from other countries. http://businessgateway.ca/en/hi/export.cfm
Financing Programs - The Overview of Government Financing is a listing of the most accessible programs for small business. For a listing of all financing options, use the search bar (leave blank for a listing everything in the database. Both can be found here:
http://smallbusinessbc.ca/financing/
One-Stop Business Registration - OneStop is a federal-provincial program in B.C. that allows entrepreneurs to use an interactive computer workstation to register with the most often-used federal and provincial agencies. Business owners can now also use the program to apply for municipal business licenses in participating municipalities. www.onestopbc.ca
Province of British Columbia - Welcome to the Government of B.C. Search Engine, designed to give you easy access to information and services available throughout the entire government website. Use Keyword or Topic searches to find what you're looking for. www.gov.bc.ca
Smart Victoria - Welcome to SMART Victoria Central. Our team is excited to be working on SMART Victoria - a program which will play a fundamental role in the linking of people, businesses, and organizations. The SmartVictoria.org project will encourage the sharing of ideas and resources within the region and throughout the province. www.smartvictoria.org/
Strategis (Canada's Business and Consumer Site) - Strategis makes use of new technologies to offer interactive applications such as customizable benchmarking tools, cost calculators, and online business planning. Many of Industry Canada's services (such as filing an application for patent) can now be completed online through Strategis. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca
Useful Website for Small Business - Find out what the Canada/BC Business Society Centre's finds are the most useful business sites on the internet are: http://www.cbsc.org/bc/search/bcsearch.cfm
VIATeC (Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre) - VIATeC acts as liaison with industry, government and educational organizations to ensure that Vancouver Island's potential for growth in the advanced technology industry is fully realized. www.viatec.ca
Western Economic Diversification Canada - Better known as just WD, our mandate is to promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and to advance the interests of the West in national economic policy. WD fulfills its mandate through the following programs and activities: Innovation; Economic Development; Business Development. www.wd.gc.ca
Women's Enterprise Society of BC - The Women's Enterprise Society of British Columbia (WESBC) is a non-profit organization committed to helping women entrepreneurs succeed in business. Services Include: Financing; Free Business Counseling; Business to Business Linking; Workshops & Training Opportunities; Resource Information & Referral. www.wes.bc.ca
Working Opportunity Fund - GrowthWorks Capital, Manager of the Working Opportunity Fund, invests in small and medium-sized businesses with high growth potential that need equity financing to achieve both domestic and export success. www.wofund.com/wof
YEA (Young Entrepreneurs Association) - YEA is the ultimate community for young entrepreneurs across Canada to join to build their business success. www.yea.ca
250-384-2590
Our partners in this new one-stop venture include the Canada/British Columbia Business Service Society, Western Economic Diversification Canada of the Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise and Business Victoria.