'"Telling our Story" is part of CFBC’s celebration of 40 years in British Columbia! General Manager of CF Boundary, Jennifer Wetmore, shares why she got involved with CF and how her team serves clients and communities throughout the Boundary area, including Grand Forks, Christina Lake, Greenwood, and Big White.
How many staff does your CF have?
12
How many volunteers does your CF have?
8
What brought you to CF as a General Manager?
I originally came to CF to seek assess employment opportunities via Work BC - and was then hired and mentored by Wendy McCulloch - she showed me how the CF Network contributes to healthy rural economies and helped me find my place in the CF DNA.
What services, projects, or initiatives does your office offer directly?
- Loans
- Micro-loans
- Self-employment Program
- Workshops or Webinars
- Consulting, Coaching, or Advising
- Community Development
What are you most proud of about how your office supports your community?
We are a "one-stop shop" for all things small business in the Boundary Region. We help to build healthy small businesses and work to build a healthy, resilient rural economy by supporting and growing other non-profits.
What is a memorable client moment for you?
A memorable client for me is Saskia, someone we’ve supported right from the beginning. She came to us in search of direction, and we were able to help her through every stage of her journey—from job searching to skills training, then onto the Self-Employment (SE) program, and finally, as she expanded and diversified her business through our Business Development Loans Program. Watching her experience real growth has been incredibly rewarding, especially since she’s always expressed deep gratitude for Community Futures. The banks wouldn’t consider the big picture with her, but we did, and it’s made all the difference for Saskia.
What might surprise people to know about your office? What else would you like people to know about what you do and who you are?
People might be surprised to know that our Community Futures Boundary provides loans from $200.00 to a $1,000,000.00 in partnership with other CF offices, banks & credit unions and BDC, no need is too small or large. Additionally we are a hub for entrepreneurial support, economic development, and community empowerment. We provide hands-on Business Coaching, helping entrepreneurs at all stages with business planning, marketing strategies, and operational advice. Clients can access free training and webinars.
What's on the horizon in your CF that excites you? Or for the CF organization as a whole?
Ongoing and continued work in the domain of emergency preparedness and response/recovery. We look forward to continuing to develop good working relationships with the Federal and Provincial government and with local stakeholders to ensure that rural economies remain resilient and sustainable.
What do you think are the greatest strengths of CF as an organization/network?
Collaboration, coverage of rural regions across this Province.
What do you wish more people knew about CF as an organization?
Our ability to assist with almost anything Small Business related. We are much more than lenders!
What motivates you to stay on with Community Futures?
The opportunity to play a role in building a better Boundary region. My colleagues across this network are very important to me - the collegiality and collaboration drives me.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your office for the CFBC anniversary?
I'm honoured to be a part of this Provincial network of specialists and professional community development experts. Once a CF'er, always a CF'er!
Connect with this Office
Website: BoundaryCF.com
