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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - OCTOBER 2013
is impressive: the total impact of the
program is $74 million in under five
years of operation,” Cramer says.
While these numbers are small
in the greater scale of the provincial
economy, the impact on the First Na-
tion business community has been
remarkable. “Of the businesses we’ve
financed, 446 jobs have been created
and 258 have been maintained. Clients
already in business have come to us for
expansion loans showing that growth
is common,” Cramer beams. “It’s all
about successful business develop-
ment, economic growth, and wealth
generation.”
FUTURE OF THE FUND
With the support of the new
Grand Chief of AMC, Derek Nepinak,
and the Province of Manitoba, the fu-
ture of FPEGF is one of growth. Over-
all, FPEGF has shown a great
capacity for government and
First Nations groups to work
together to create sustainable
economic growth. “We will focus on
attracting more financing going for-
ward, whether it’s provincial, federal
or private,” Cramer explains. “We will
take on other contracts and funds as
we grow, because ultimately we would
like to grow the Fund to an extent that
we can operate and engage in other ac-
tivities that will help entrepreneurs—
we want to expand to become a real
force in the economy.”
As individuals in First Na-
tions communities observe role
models who have been supported by
the Fund, more entrepreneurs will
surely see the opportunities they have
in the business landscape. “We are
very impressed with the client base we
have out there now—I know we will
be further impressed by the entrepre-
neurs we haven’t even met yet,” Cra-
mer concludes.
To explore the Fund’s website and learn
more, visit
.
FIRST PEOPLES ECONOMIC GROWTH FUND
