CFEK has a mandate to foster diverse and resilient communities through Community Economic Development projects and initiatives. Primarily, we achieve this objective by providing financial support to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the form of repayable loans. Each year, a portion of the interest earned from the loans that we provide is reinvested into the communities that we serve, through organizations such as the Chambers of Commerce, funding projects or programs that aim to enhance the local economy.
The purpose of the Initiative is to collaboratively pursue regional economic development projects and initiatives in the Elk Valley striving to expand opportunities for existing businesses, attract new ones and diversify the types of businesses. In addition, we aim to increase the number of permanent, full-time residents who spend their money locally thereby contributing to the region’s sustainability.
The Community and Economic Development Department works to strengthen the Tobacco Plains Indian Band, our members and community, by developing an economy that is in harmony with our traditions and values, and achieves our goals for self-sustainability and employment.
Modeled after CBC’s “The Dragons’ Den”, where qualifying entrepreneurs pitch their business idea to a group of potential investors, Junior Dragons’ Den is a Columbia Basin wide initiative and call to action for student entrepreneurs from Grade 8 to College level, to create their own summer job/ business, or to expand an existing one.