GICIC has helped these new and existing businesses. Please check them out!
Welcome Home https://www.welcomehomegabriola.ca/ Free Range Medicinals https://www.blondinburt.ca The Haven https://www.haven.ca/
Gabriola Housing Society https://gabriolahousing.ca/
Application Form for COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Loan (Downloaded: 460)
Criteria and Priorities for COVID-19 (Downloaded: 470)
COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program
The Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce is working with organizations to respond to the COVID19 pandemic. The Chamber has collaborated with The Gabriola Island Community Investment Co-op to offer interest free loans to local business owners in the amounts of $500-2500.
This loan can be used not only for response but also for recovery. If your business requires a new tool, software, website or something else to help pivot your operation, please apply.
If you need assistance with the application process, connect with Julie Sperber at julie@gabriolamudgedecourcy.ca.
Worried about your business? Want to help local businesses?
Working with the Chamber of Commerce, the Gabriola Island Community Investment Coop is launching an emergency loan program immediately to help local businesses meet some pressing expenses until money becomes available from government programs.
Loan amounts are between $500 and $2,500.
The Chamber of Commerce will pay the interest on these loans upon repayment making them interest free. Applications will be processed as quickly as possible.
For more information email info@investingabriola.ca
Read the Criteria and Process documents here.
Get the loan application form here.
Send the completed application form to: info@investingabriola.ca
To become a member of the GICIC (membership form).
Gabriola Island Investment Coop Directors:
Fay Weller Katharine Patterson
Susan Yates Lawrence Spero
Arlene Carson Glenn Harris
If you have a proposal now is the time to bring it forward.
Island Impact
The Gabriola Community Investment Co-op will finance projects to create positive social and environmental impacts in our community, while also providing a modest financial return to our members. We will do this by raising capital through the sale of membership shares. This seed capital is then invested in impact ventures — local projects, land and organizations — that will help Gabriola grow a sustainable island economy and healthy community.
Strategic Investments
Based on our surveys of entrepreneurs and investors here on Gabriola and what has worked for other communities with investment co-ops, we’re focusing on these investment areas:
Sustainable local businesses and meaningful work
Food security and sustainable agri-food businesses
First Nations partnerships
Waste recovery and recycling
Clean technologies and renewable energy
Affordable housing
There are investment co-operatives growing in communities throughout Canada and British Columbia, including the Vancouver Island Community Investment Co-op, and we’re working with them to design the best possible model for Gabriola.
Imagine investing in fellow islanders who want to use food waste currently being ferried away to create nutrient-packed soil for Gabriola farmers, or value-added processing solutions to turn those island-grown vegetables and fruits into exciting new products and the jobs that go with them.
Investors receive a modest financial return from projects like that, and the whole island community benefits.
Co-op Model
Based on the feedback we’ve received at packed community events and from two surveys, we know there is a real appetite on Gabriola to build community and redirect some of our hard earned savings to projects that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
And there is no shortage of entrepreneurs with ideas and projects that could make a huge difference here on the island, from food security to housing solutions and renewable energy.
RRSP's Don't Stay
Over $4.3 billion in RRSP investments leave British Columbia each year, with $500 million flowing out of the Islands.
Not one cent is invested locally.
A Community Investment Co-op offers a new way to invest in people and projects that work for Gabriola.