Changes coming to Self Employment Program
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
A program that has contributed over 1,400 businesses in the last 22 years to the West Kootenay region is now facing some cutbacks.
The Self Employment Program run through Community Futures in Nelson will be instituting two new changes to the popular and productive program, as the nationwide program undergoes a transition from federal to provincial delivery.
Effective Nov. 1, 2010 people entering the Self Employment Program — funding coming from Employment Insurance — are eligible for $300/week living support, down from $350, and the maximum contract length is now 48 weeks, down from 52 weeks.
As well, as of April 1, 2011, past clients of Community Futures will not be able to attend workshops for free, or half off tuition for any “loan” clients.
Under federal funding, those who had access to the programs received ongoing support in terms of access to workshops and classes.
With an 85 per cent success rate of people still being in business five years post program, the program has proven its worth and value in its contribution to the West Kootenay economic picture.
Since February, 2009, the responsibility for delivery of the program was transferred from the Federal Government over to the Provincial Government.
Up until now, the Province has continued to honour the terms and conditions of the contracts that were previously written with the Federal Government.
In this transition period the Province is deciding how they will deliver the new Self Employment Program as of April 1, 2012.
If you have any questions regarding the changes, please contact Barb Williams, Self Employment Program coordinator at (250) 352-1933, extension 116.
