Here are some resources that will be of interest or helpful to you as you do business in Okotoks.
Formed in 2020, the OEE brings together organizations that support business growth and development. Contributors recognize that by staying connected we can MAXIMIZE RESOURCES, REDUCE DUPLICATION and pursue NEW INITIATIVES that provide benefits to the community. Along with Okotoks Economic Development, founding members of the OEE include:
With Bow Valley College's Regional Campuses, your education needs are met where you live. Gain access to higher education without the need to relocate. Expand your horizons, build lifelong connections, and embark on a successful academic journey right in your own backyard.
Regional programming serves the educational needs of residents living in areas surrounding Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Programming is offered through a blend of in-person and online methods.
Bow Valley College
107 Riverside Drive West
Okotoks, AB T1S 1A6
Ph: 403-476-2233
Email: regional@bowvalleycollege.ca
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
The primary role of Community Futures Highwood (CFH) is to promote small business growth, generate jobs and build capacity within its shareholder communities. They initiate and implement strategic programs aimed at creating a sustainable, diversified economy. CFH offers a flexible financing program (SME loans and lines of credit) to assist start-up entrepreneurs and existing business owners who are unable to obtain conventional financing. CFH services Okotoks, Diamond Valley, Foothills County, High River, Nanton and surrounding area, Vulcan and Vulcan County and is governed by a board of volunteer directors.
Community Futures Highwood
CFH offers:
Inclusion Foothills is a family advocacy organization committed to providing individuals with disabilities and their families support that contributes to an inclusive, meaningful life. Of utmost importance is creating a safe, non-judgmental space for all in offering support, education, and information.
Services cover a range of programs and change over time to meet the current needs of families and funding. Services include support groups, one-to-one assistance planning, access to resources and more. Inclusion Foothills also provides employment services, facilitating those with barriers to find meaningful and rewarding work.
MCG Careers began their work with unemployed Albertans in 1989, and has continually expanded services since then. They specialize in career consulting, employment support, occupational training, and professional development. They have offices in Okotoks and High River and many of their services are free of charge.
Okotoks Arts Council is a passionate volunteer-based organization on a mission to create and maintain a vibrant arts energy, and foster collaborative friendships within the unique communities of Foothills, Alberta.
Non-profit organization comprised of volunteers that are dedicated towards helping and promoting local businesses in the community. The Chamber is dedicated to helping and promoting local businesses. Chamber members have opportunities to engage in valuable activities, such as networking and new business contacts, problem solving, as well as lending support and planning for future growth and direction of the business community. The mission includes active promotion, facilitate and strengthen the business climate by providing: leadership, representation, networking opportunities, services and education to members.
Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce
Skills in Action, a project in partnership with Community Futures Canada and funded by the Government of Canada's Skills for Success Program, is an online portal comprised of a suite of training programs designed to enhance the skill sets of Canadian workers based on the Skills for Success model. The portal includes online training management tools to plan, deliver and manage the training programs. Expected outcomes include:
To learn more, contact Community Futures Highwood:
Ursula Sherwood, Executive Director
Direct Line: 403-842-0389
Office Line: 403-995-4151
Email: ursulas@cfhighwood.net
Unleash your potential with the Dream Business Program in partnership with the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program and Community Futures offices in Western Canada.
Are you ready to transform your aspirations into a thriving business venture? Look no further! Our Dream Business Program (starting September 14, 2023!) is here to equip you with the tools, valuable resources, and unwavering support necessary to embark on your entrepreneurial journey.
We believe disabilities or ongoing health conditions should never impede your passion for entrepreneurship. Through our comprehensive range of services, you’ll gain access to an abundance of invaluable resources designed to empower you.
Start Now Incubator was born out of a shared passion for fostering connections and cultivating networks, mentoring opportunities, and resources/supports for women entrepreneurs. It takes a flexible approach to provide tailored services that help meet the needs of rural, Indigenous, diverse, and underserved women to start and grow their businesses. We are here to help you take that first step and the next step in your success.
Start Now Incubator
The Town recognizes the vital contributions of Métis and Indigenous businesses to our local economy and community and are committed to providing the support and resources necessary to help these businesses thrive. In this section you will find information and resources tailored to the unique needs of Indigenous entrepreneurs, including access to funding opportunities, business development programs and networking events. We also highlight success stories from our local Indigenous business community to inspire and connect you with peers.
Our goal is to create an inclusive and supportive environment where Indigenous businesses can grow and succeed. We invite you to explore the resources available and reach out to our team for any additional support you may need. Together, we can build a vibrant and diverse business community that benefits everyone.
Get Started
Each business requires tailored tools and resources to succeed. If you are an Indigenous entrepreneur looking to start or build your business in Okotoks, contact us today to find out how we can assist you.
Business Link’s team of Indigenous small business experts offers:
These resources are designed to help you start and grow your business successfully.
ITAC supports Indigenous tourism by creating partnerships with associations, organizations, government departments, and industry leaders. They focus on the development and marketing of authentic Indigenous experiences. ITAC's membership process allows Indigenous tourism partners to engage and support each other.
Indigenous Services Canada provides programs to support Indigenous entrepreneurs, including the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP). This program offers access to capital and business opportunities.
Apeetogosan offers financial services and support to Indigenous entrepreneurs, including:
Funded by Prairies Economic Development Canada, CFT7 offers operations, lending, and business support services for members of Treaty Seven. They provide technical assistance for business plans, opportunity identification, business counselling, and entrepreneurial training.
The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF) funds capital costs for Indigenous community-owned economic development projects, improving social and economic outcomes for Indigenous Peoples and their communities.
The Benefits Finder is a tool that can help you find Benefits and Services that you may be eligible to receive.
Business taxes, permits and regulations, intellectual property, business support and how to sell to government.
A nonprofit organization that helps people navigate the steps toward starting their own businesses. They provide one-on-one support and guidance, market research, access to experts, training, networking opportunities, and specialized support for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
This program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders. The maximum loan amount for a borrower is $1.15 million.
Financial institutions deliver the program and are solely responsible for approving the loan.
• Up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for term loans for any one borrower, of which no more than $500,000 can be used for purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property and purchasing or improving new or used equipment and of that amount, a maximum of $150,000 could be used for intangible assets and working capital costs.
• Up to a maximum of $150,000 for lines of credit.
Program Details
The mission of Destination Canada is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, building alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. In collaboration with our partners, we promote Canada as a premier four-season leisure and business tourism destination around the country and world.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada ( ISED ) works with Canadians in all areas of the economy and in all parts of the country to improve conditions for investment, enhance Canada's innovation performance, increase Canada's share of global trade and build a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace.
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program uses tax incentives to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. These tax incentives come in three forms: an income tax deduction, an investment tax credit (ITC), and, in certain circumstances, a refund.
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program
Tourism is defined as the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure or business. It may also include visiting friends and relatives, religious purposes, or medical treatment. Tourism export are receipts earned from expenditures by international visitors to Canada on Canadian merchandise and services. Tourism export accounts for 20% of total tourism activities in Canada.
Ready to do business internationally? Our trade commissioners around the world can support Canadian companies with market intelligence, identify new business opportunities, and find qualified contacts that will help them succeed in foreign markets.
In partnership with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and Aboriginal Business Canada, this council helps young Aboriginal entrepreneurs by:
Futurpreneur Canada supports Indigenous entrepreneurs aged 18-39 by offering:
Rupertsland Institute helps employers find Métis workers and offers:
Connect with other Indigenous businesses in our community:
Learn more
Programs that support Indigenous entrepreneurs:
Learn more
Assists agriculture and food processors with business and marketing information, funding opportunities and provides information on farmer markets.
Biz Connect provides supports to help Alberta entrepreneurs and small businesses start, grow and succeed.
Alberta Innovates solves some of the biggest industry challenges in our province and supports the growth of business while stimulating the start-up community to build new technology and drive new ideas. We want to build a bright future for all Albertans. Funding is available for innovative, technology based products.
Alberta Small Business Resources is a directory of business resources for new and established entrepreneurs.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a not-for-profit, non-government organization that provides consumers with confidence in their choices and businesses pride in their status. Businesses that become BBB Accredited are not only associating their business with trust, but are also helping BBB to continue its public service activities.
Information on Employment, Immigration and Industry in Alberta.
As Canada’s leading provincial destination management organization, Travel Alberta drives the growth of the province’s visitor economy, creating and promoting must-visit destinations throughout the province. We do this by helping businesses develop memorable products and experiences, marketing those products and experiences to the world, and ensuring visitors have access to them.
The Foothills Centennial Centre (FCC) is multi-purpose complex in Okotoks is made up of a seniors' centre, youth space, meeting rooms, covered outdoor patio, commercial kitchen, and a 10,000-square-foot hall that can be divided into four smaller halls. Accommodates functions from 10 to 1,000 people. The FCC is connected to the Okotoks Arenas.
Literacy for Life is a local non-profit organization that supports adults (18 to 80 +) in their learning needs. Some of the ways they do this is by providing GED preparation classes, English as a Second Language classes, Basic Computer classes, as well as tutoring services. They also assist parents in increasing children’s/youth literacy levels through a variety of programming.
The Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting businesses in bringing novel goods or processes to market. It is provincial partnership that provides programs and resources to Alberta businesses, with a focus on technology and innovation support. The purpose of RINSA is to offer entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses access to:
RINSA also collaborates with other Alberta innovation systems to increase efficiency and collaboration across the province. It was established in 2011 as a collaborative partnership between Alberta Innovates and the following members.
University of Lethbridge | Okotoks Economic Development |
Techconnect / EDL | Piikani Resource Development |
Lethbridge College | Blood Tribe Economic Development |
NRC-IRAP | Community Futures |
Alberta Innovates | Southgrow Regional Initiative |
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce | Alberta Southwest Regional Economic Development |
In alignment with the Town of Okotoks Social Wellness Framework, and to support the mental and physical well-being of the community, the Town offers Recreation Centre facility passes to community and regional corporate organizations with 10 or more employees. The facility provides year-round continued learning, sport, recreation and leisure opportunities for all ages and abilities!
Once an organization has become an approved corporate client, each employee will receive 10% off current annual pass rates. Direct billing and third party billing options are available and proof of employment is necessary. Please contact Recreation Centre Client Services at 403-938-8954 to discuss becoming a corporate partner in health and wellness in Okotoks!
Addressing Addiction & Mental Health in the Workplace
These AHS Addiction & Mental Health resources cover topics and issues specific to the workplace. Whether you're a manager, an employee, a safety supervisor, an allied health professional or a small business owner, you'll find useful resources to help you make your workplace safe, healthy and productive.
Entrepreneurs' well-being and mental health is a priority. BDC has created a library of resources to offer a range of services and information on mental health and well-being.