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Two year extension given to the RABC

May 26, 2017 | 10:01 AM

The Rural Alberta Business Centre here in Rocky Mountain House has been granted an extension by the Alberta Government.

RABC provides direct information and support services to small businesses in rural Alberta communities in an efficient and cost effective manner, providing advice and information services to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Rocky Mountain House, Camrose, Cold Lake and Hanna are the communities that are presently participating in the RABC program.

“This actually started as a three year pilot program” says Small Business Advisor, Michelle Andrishak. “By this extension the government is giving us even more aptitude to serve entrepreneurs and business owners whether you’re at the start-up phase, or the shutdown phase or anywhere in between. And by the end of June 2019 that three year project has now been extended into a seven year project.”

However, reduced annual grant contributions are being decreased to $75,000 per annum instead of $150,000. The stated reason for the reduction is to try and transition away this service from being funded through a government grant. 

So, starting in 2018 RABC will charge for client-specific services and will reduce the amount of regional travel events for the Small Business Advisor. But an increase of funding may be needed for the Town or County councils in 2018 and possibly more-so in 2020 to continue to sustain the RABC services. 

In the last three months, the Small Business Advisor had a total of 226 client interactions, hosted 9 learning opportunities workshops and had 90 separate one-on-one coaching appointments.