The Challenge 4 Business

4 Weeks
4 Challenges
4 Winners (...well actually, every community involved will be a winner...)
4 Prizes 1st - $3,000; 2nd - $2,000; 3rd - $1,000; 4th - $500

Community groups or municipalities will propose and plan a community driven project, program or business ideas for community-based economic development strategies.
It can be a brand new idea
It can use existing assets or infrastructure
It can provide an opportunity to create future jobs and economic wealth

• The challenges will test the creativity, business idea and marketing skills of the group.
• Viewers will be able to follow the competition on the Newsask Website
• The public will be able to vote on the internet for their favorite business development idea.
• The winners will receive their prize money to fund their project concept.
• The winners will have an opportunity to have their commercial aired on CJVR

The Challenges:
1. Submit with your application and an essay of approximately five hundred (500) words or less, outlining the benefit your project will be to your community. You may include a photo with the essay. The application must be received by Community Futures no later than November 1, 2010.
2. November 8, 2010 - Create a Facebook Fan Page to promote your idea and market it to the region.
Responsibly encourage your Facebook networks to join your fan page.
Positively represent any partners and Community Futures Newsask.
3. November 15, 2010 - Create a YouTube video promoting your project.
4. November 22, 2010 - Create an audio advertisement for a 30 second radio commercial to be submitted in writing (paragraph form.)

Project Examples:

1. A local agricultural society notices empty hog facilities – they would like to develop a feasibility model that would look at alternatives uses for these empty facilities for such businesses as aquaculture production or ??

2. Participation and development of a business opportunity survey for tourist destinations within the region.

3. Participation and development of “Asset Mapping” in your community or an area within the region; and creating an interactive map highlighting landmarks, points or interest, historical sites in addition to future development of related attractions.

4. Collaboration of several rural municipalities to conduct a survey to determine the feasibility of constructing a specific manufacturing plant in the area.

5. Development of a consortium or cluster of like businesses or services in a region and identifying the benefit of partnering to attract business or tourism, or services, etc to the region.

6. A local town council would undertake the feasibility of developing affordable housing and/or rental units for their community.

7. A town or municipality may be examining the opportunity to purchase or build a local garage/repair shop, and rent or lease the space at a preferred rate in order to attract a journeyman mechanic to the area.

What other kind of projects could community groups submit? They may include ideas that focus on:

• Diversification
• Innovation
• Development of new technologies
• Community Benefit
• Long-term economic impact
• Community involvement

Ineligible Projects:

• Projects where activities are already funded by another organization or level of government.

• Facilities or services normally considered municipal, provincial or private-sector. Example: community centre, street improvements.

• Projects where the main purpose is fund raising. (You can budget fundraising as part of the income for the project; however, it cannot be the main purpose of the project).

• Projects that primarily benefit one person

Click here for Official Rules and Application Form
Authorization for Minor - under the age of 18

Click here for help to create a Facebook page or YouTube video