When Laurie Hannah decided to open a thrift store in her British Columbia community, she needed a business plan that would be approved by the board of directors of the Westcoast Community Resources Society.
Instead, she turned to Community Futures Central Island for help.
"She wasn't just building a business; she was creating a whole new social enterprise," Hannah tells the Vancouver Sun.
The idea for Ukee Re-Use came to her as a way to give back to the communities in which she lives and work, and she wanted to make sure the profits would go back to the communities in which she serves.
That's why she chose to partner with the society, which provides safe shelter, education, and counseling services to the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet.
Hannah had worked with other community organizations before coming up with her own business plan, and she relied on the services of a coach from the regional advisory services program.
"He really helped us set this up right from the beginning, and I know it's a relationship that will continue after we open this summer," says Hannah, who hopes to open the store this summer.
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