Co-operatives First receives federal funds from Prairiescan

SUBMITTED Co-operatives First is proud to announce it will receive support under the Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) program from Prairies Economic Development Canada (Prairiescan).

The funding support of over $282,000 will be used to help groups create much-needed childcare co-operatives across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.

This investment will have a significant impact on economies across the prairie provinces, supporting Co-operatives First as they work with rural and Indigenous communities to develop new childcare co-operatives that will allow parents to increase their participation in the workforce.

As licensed facilities, these new coops will be eligible for the Government of Canada’s $10/day childcare initiative.

“The benefits of accessible and reliable early childhood education are clear - creating a larger pool of workers employers can recruit from, providing more parents with the opportunity to participate in training and jobs, allowing for a faster return to the workforce, and preparing children for their futures,” said the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for Prairiescan.

“For all these reasons, our government is committed to ensuring that families in the Prairies have access to high-quality, affordable, and flexible early learning and childcare. We are happy to partner with Co-operatives First to make that goal a reality.”

“In working with clients to start childcare co-ops, we have found that engaging multiple stakeholders – like municipal administrations and First Nations – is a great way to create sustainable organizations without putting the pressure on parents to do it themselves,” said Co-operatives First’s Executive Director, Audra Krueger.

“We want to help more communities use this unique and successful approach to create the childcare centres they need to fully realize their economic potential.”

Co-operatives First is a non-profit organization funded by Federated Co-operatives Limited and the Co-operative Retailing System.

Founded in 2015, the organization provides co-op start-up resources, such as business coaching and incorporation support, to rural and Indigenous co-op entrepreneurs across western Canada. The goal is to help leaders in these communities build new businesses, grow local economies, and support community development.

Prairiescan is the department that diversifies the economy across the Canadian Prairies and leads in building a strong, competitive Canadian economy by supporting business, innovation, and community economic development unique to Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.

Through the CEDD program, Prairiescan makes targeted investments that aim to generate sustainable, inclusive economic growth and help communities across the Prairies fully participate in and benefit from economic opportunities.