Community Futures Entrepreneur Fund (CFEF) has been helping people start and grow small businesses in the Comox Valley and Strathcona Regional Districts since 1986. They’re a non-profit that provides financing and business support to entrepreneurs who might not qualify for traditional bank loans—specifically targeting first-time business owners, rural entrepreneurs, and people facing barriers to conventional financing, including youth, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and women. Their stated mission is simple: “We make business possible for marginalized entrepreneurs.”

CFEF offers accessible financing for starting new businesses, expanding existing operations, or buying an established business. Beyond money, they provide hands-on support including help developing business plans, business registration assistance, financial advice, and educational resources. They’re part of the federal Community Futures Program managed by PacifiCan, which has supported rural economic development across Canada for nearly four decades. The organization is run by a volunteer board of directors and operates out of Campbell River.

The numbers suggest their support makes a real difference. Businesses that work with CFEF have consistently outperformed those without assistance—showing higher employment growth, better sales growth, and significantly better five-year survival rates (68% versus 46% for non-assisted firms). You can reach them by phone at 250-830-0999, email [email protected], or apply online through their website. If you’re thinking about starting a business in the Valley and don’t have access to traditional financing, CFEF is worth looking into—they’ve been doing this work for over 35 years and have a track record of helping businesses succeed.