Mission City Record
www.missioncityrecord.com
Friday, September 13, 2019 A17
September 2019
Marketing, coMMunications strategy earns coMMunity Futures north Fraser top honours By rick rake Click Media Works
Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards marketing and communications award recipient. “If you shopped in Mission in the last week, chances are you shopped at a business supported by Community Futures North Fraser (CFNF),” said Main, adding that it is a federally-funded non-profit launched in Mission in 1996. Framed photographs of some of the businesses considered CFNF success stories, including Blackberry Kitchen, Wenting’s Cycle Shop, Grab-A-Java coffee shop and Corona’s Mexican restaurant, adorn the walls of the NFCF conference room. Main said 10 loans annually, up to $900,000 a year are provided to business from a CFNF loan fund of $3 million. (PHOTO CAPTION) : Debbie Cave, Michelle Blackwell, Allan Main and Gwen Atkinson (left to right) of Community Futures North Fraser, recipient of 2018 Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Marketing and Communications Award sponsored by Mission Record.
After creating one administration, marketing and communications position in its office three years ago, Community Futures North Fraser in Mission substantially elevated its presence in the community. When the public sees a compelling Facebook or Instagram post or observes the non-profit organization at special events, it is clear its outreach strategy is paying off. Gwen Atkinson was hired to make the difference, and executive director Allan Main said she is not only responsible for the Community Futures North Fraser marketing budget, social media and strategic placement of newspaper advertising, she is also working one-on-one with clients to help them get their marketing efforts on track. Based on the amount of client traffic driven to North Fraser’s office and the increased activity and awareness, the organization is now the 2018 Mission
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“Services to our entrepreneurs, at any stage of their development, are free,” said Main whether they are starting a business, buying one, expanding or trying to manage change. CFNF also now offers clients training in Abbotsford and Mission for its Self-Employment Program. “This is the best first place to come,” said Main. Core services include small business loans, business advice, training, economic development (Mission to Kent to Harrison Hot Springs), and a program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Also working at the Mission office are Michelle Blackwell (loans officer) and Debbie Cave (accounts administrator). Main said StatsCan data shows businesses securing community futures support are typically more successful than those that don’t, hiring more, bringing in more revenue and getting past the critical five-year milestone.
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