Telling Our Story: CF Thompson Country
Get to know Community Futures Thompson Country as part of CFBC’s celebration of 40 years in British Columbia! General Manager, Blair Gray, shares why he got involved with CF and how his team serves clients and communities throughout the Thompson region including, Kamloops, Chase, Clearwater, and more.
How many staff does your CF have?
18
How many volunteers does your CF have?
What brought you to CF as a General Manager?
I joined Thompson Country in 2017 as the General Manager, after working in employment contracting. Thompson Country held a WorkBC contract and continues to do so, so that was the initial appeal in working for CFTC. The business development and lending interested me greatly and I have thoroughly enjoyed overseeing the delivery of those services and all of the clients we support through our core programming.
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 other services does your office share with clients?
- BC Business Match
- Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP)
- Export Navigator
- myCommunityFutures
- PRIDE in Entrepreneurship Program
- Venture Connect
- Work BC - Self-employment Services
What are you most proud of about how your office supports your community?
The totality of clients who’ve accessed CFTC services and continue to champion our programs after completion is extremely gratifying.
What is a memorable client moment for you?
Difficult to pick 1. Providing the STEPS medical clinic with a large loan to supply them with the medical equipment required to start their first clinic has had a tremendous impact on our community and the ability for people to access healthcare. A second loan to support their growth throughout the Thompson region was confirmation of the importance of providing them capital.
What's on the horizon in your CF that excites you? Or for the CF organization as a whole?
An exciting aspect of working at CF is the unknown of what projects and programs may come next. Our ability to adapt to the current business climate, opportunities and challenges is a hallmark of CF services and programs.
What do you think are the greatest strengths of CF as an organization/network?
A key strength across the CF network is the people who work and volunteer for CFs They are passionate about what they do and have the local community knowledge to best support businesses in their communities.
What do you wish more people knew about CF as an organization?
What motivates you to stay on with Community Futures?
The opportunity to improve our services delivery and ensure our communities are resilient and sustainable.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about your office for the CFBC anniversary?
Thompson Country takes great pride in being a part of the CFBC network and looks forward to many more successful years working with CFBC and all of the CFs across the Province.
Connect with this Office
Website: CommunityFutures.net
