Bashaw and Area Business Navigation and Support Project

Bashaw and Area Business Navigation and Supports

May 2024 to September 2025

Project Objectives

• Develop, deliver and analyze business needs assessment results.  

• Develop or identify up to 6 workshops to address top business needs. 

• Provide business coaching/advising for up to 30 businesses 

• Develop 1 or 2-day workshop for training and support for up to 15 key partner groups and organizations to assist with navigation (where to find) additional programs and resources.

Accomplishments

• Collaborated with the Town of Bashaw, Chamber of Commerce and Community Resource Centre to plan the details of the project.

• Established the project working environment and managed the project, which included facilitating meeting, creating agendas, assisting with project communications, monitoring project scope, budget, timelines, addressing issues and monitoring risks and developing project status reports, which were used for grant reporting.

• Completed an environmental scan and gathered necessary resources in the area to ensure no duplication of services.

• Assisted with defining and contracting the additional human resources required to complete the project, such as the 14 business coaches/advisors.

• Develop the Survey, in consultation with the client. Collect the data, develop the interview guide, arrange for interviews (online and in-person options to be developed with the final contract).

• Developed, delivered a survey and interviews for Bashaw and area to determine business needs for training and support.

• Analyzed the results to create a final recommendation report, which highlighted the needs of the community. The workshops topics were scheduled and delivered and specialized business advisors were found and made available to the businesses in Bashaw and area.

• During the customer discovery it was determined that people would prefer to watch session recordings, so a website was created to host the event registration, workshop recording, business advisor profiles and booking and resources for the community to review. Bashaw.info

• Facilitated the development of all marketing materials used to promote the project throughout the area, including signage, social posts, postcards etc.

• 19 online and in-person workshops were delivered and recorded to meet the needs identified in the survey.

• Developed and distributed monthly project communications for businesses and partners.

• Throughout the project 5 businesses visitations took place, where the program was promoted and businesses were asked if they needed help or assistance with anything.

• 14 clients were provided with business advice or coaching.

• Relationships were developed with 40 stakeholders in the surrounding area . They helped promote the workshops and resources and shared their resources.

• Planned and delivered an Economic Training and regional Strategic planning session for 20 partners in the area.

• Developed a final Internal recommendation report for next steps post-project.

• Initial Assessment: C4ner Consulting conducted a business survey and interviews for Bashaw and the surrounding area to identify business training and support needs.

• Community Resources: Identified and made available business advisor supports, resources, tools, and infrastructure on a website once community needs were determined.

• Website Development: A website (Bashaw.info) was added to the project as a communication platform, hosting event registration, workshop recordings, business advisor profiles, and community resources, due to a preference from business owners for recorded workshops.

• Workshop Delivery: Scheduled and delivered workshops on various topics and provided specialized business advisors to businesses in Bashaw and the area.

• Strategic Planning: Planned and delivered an Economic Training and regional Strategic Planning session for 20 Community partners.

• Final Report: Developed a final internal recommendation report outlining next steps post-project.

Project Contributors

• Website development with Cinch Communications Inc. 

• Ann Worthington - Evaluation Specialist & Data Analyst  

• Suzanne Ebelher- Managing Director of Mission Ignite Management Consulting 

• Other coaches/Business Advisors and their area of specialty 

Services in this Project

• Define project with client to develop grant application. 

• Economic Development 

• Entrepreneurial Development 

• Stakeholder Engagement 

• Training 

• Project Management 

• Research