The Challenge 4 Business (Nov, 2010)
Week 1
The first Challenge: An essay of approximately five hundred (500) words or less, outlining the benefit your project will be to your community. See the essays below.
Week 2
The second challenge: Create a Facebook Fan Page to promote your idea and market it to the region. Check them out. the links are listed below.
Week 3
The third challenge: Create a YouTube Video promoting your project. Check them out. The links are listed below.
Week 4
The Fourth challenge: Create an audio advertisement for a 30 second radio commercial to be submittedin writing (paragraph form). Check them out.
Voting has ended with the following results:
| Project | Week 1 | Week 2, 3, 4 |
Total | Place |
| Town of Hudson Bay - Marketing Strategy | 12 |
63 |
75 |
3rd |
| Northeast Newcomer Service - Driving for Change | 17 |
30 |
47 |
4th |
| SK Regional Gateway - In the Comfort of our Food | 162 |
189 |
351 |
2nd |
| World Kitchen Community Group - International Cooking Classes in Tisdale | 14 |
19 |
33 |
5th |
| Nature Trails Volunteer Group - Nature Trails Rejuvenation | 189 |
736 |
925 |
1st |
These are the projects in the order or their final standing and the challenges completed.
Project 5
Nature Trails Volunteer Group (at Kipabiskau Regional Park)
Total Votes: 925
 Click on the Facebook link or log in to your Facebook page and search for "Kipabiskau Nature Trails Volunteer Group" |
 Click on the YouTube link or log in to your YouTube account and search for Kipabiskau Nature Trails 2010 |
 30 Second Radio Ad copy to air if this project wins. |
Nature Trails Rejuvenation
Kipabiskau Regional Park is home to a network of Nature Trails that were used and enjoyed by nature enthusiast, hikers, mountain bikers, cross country skiers, snowmobilers, etc. For several years these trails have not been maintained due to budget restraints and employee cutbacks.
The Kipabiskau Regional Park Board of directors approached us in spring 2010 about bringing the trails back to good usable condition on a volunteer basis, a task which our group accepted. Our Goal is to clear deadfall, cut back brush which has grown in on the trails, and drainage to some wet areas, and renew signage at the trailhead as well as along the various trails.
In the past the nature trails were a much used asset to the park. They are written up in the book "Saskatchewan Trails - A Guide to Nature Walk and Easy Hikes 2nd Edition" by Robin and Arlene Karpan, and are a draw for tourists to come visit the park. As well as providing enjoyment to visitors in the summer, the trails afford winter recreation opportunities in the park off season. They are a valuable ongoing asset for Kipabiskau Regional Park and the surrounding area, and are worth the time and effort needed to maintain them. Our small group is pleased to work at returning them to good condition.
June, 2011 update.... and these are some of the results:
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Project 3
Newcomer Gateway
Total Votes - 351
| Click on the Facebook link or log in to your Facebook page and search for "In The Comfort of our Food - Comfort Food From Around the World" |
Click on the YouTube link or log in to your YouTube account and search for In the Comfort of our Food. |
30 Second Radio Ad copy to air if this project wins. |
In the Comfort of our Food - Comfort Food from Around the World
Development and publishing of a cook book with feel-good dishes from around the world. Immigrants to Saskatchewan are sharing their favorite recipes that remind them of their family and friends and that comfort them in times of homesickness. The book further contains engaging stories behind each immigrant and the reasons why they left their home country and why they moved to Saskatchewan.
By giving new residents an opportunity to share recipes from their culture and talk about their experience as immigrants this book not only allows them to contribute to the cultural scene of Saskatchewan but it also raises the awareness for the complex socio-economic factors that bring them to Saskatchewan. The book will thus enhance the reader's inter-cultural understanding and allow them to see their own country and culture through the eyes of an immigrant by learning how life changed for these people, how things are different, what they like about living in Saskatchewan, and what they miss from home.
The book will involve all recently established Newcomer Gateways (11) in the province to represent the various immigrant groups in the province. A project coordinator will be hired to interview immigrants, write the stories, gather photographs, and bring the content into the book format.
The book will be sold by the Gateways. Part of the profit of the book sale will recover some of the costs. The surplus will go towards future projects addressing immigrants' needs.
June, 2011 Update on project: The group is, "...currently in the process of applying for additional funding to realize the project. The estimated project cost is about $12,000 and we are trying to secure the outstanding $10,000. More funding would allow us to hire a project coordinator to collect immigrant's stories and recipes, and to compile the book, which will create a contract position for about 3 to 4 months." The prize money from the Challenge will act as "seed money" for the group to further initiate the project... it looks like job creation in addition to a great project!
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Project 1
Town of Hudson Bay
Total Votes: 75
| Click on the Facebook link or log in to your Facebook page and search for "Hudson Bay Industrial Building For Sale or Lease" |
Click on the YouTube link or log in to your YouTube account and search for Hudson Bay Industrial Building for Sale or Lease |
30 Second Radio Ad copy to air if this project wins. |
Marketing Strategy for a 39,000 sq ft Commercial/Industrial Building and Site.
Introduction
The Town of Hudson Bay received funding from the Community Development Trust Fund to upgrade an existing industrial building located on 20 acres of serviced industrial property, to bring it to a standard that could house one or more industries. We are currently in the process of completing the upgrades. The next step will be to develop a marketing strategy to find one or more legitimate renters or purchasers. Attracting one or more new businesses or expanding existing industries will provide many benefits to the community and is the objective of our marketing strategy.
Benefits to the community will include job creation, long term economic impact, local diversification, provide development opportunities, potentially attract new business opportunities, and potentially provide expansion and add new value added produciton opportunities.
Job Creation
The first and foremost benefit of the project will be job creation. There will be construction jobs, plus permanent jobs when an industry(s) is established. In turn because of an increase in population there will be spin off of jobs in the service industry.
Long Term Economic Impact
Since the estimated life of this infrastructure project is 50 years, this translates to long term stable employment.
Local Diversification
the project will help diversify the local economy away from the forestry industry. The current downturn in the forest commodity markets and subsequent closures and production curtailments of local processing facilities has caused great economic hardship for our community.
Development Opportunities
This infrastructure project will foster new development opportunities. Upgrading the industrial floor space will give us the flexibility to offer opportunities to prospective small & medium sized industrial developments to set up business in Hudson Bay. At present these opportunities are very limited.
Opportunity to Attract New Business
The project has the potential to attract new business to the communmity by filling the current void of unavailable building infrastructure and floor space in the community.
Expansion and Value Added Opportunities
The project also has the potential to expand existing industries and add new value added production lines to capitalize on local natural resources and existing manufactures.
Marketing Strategy: Compile Inforamtion
Our marketing strategy to find one or more legitimate renters or purchasers will include compiling information on the community. This will include information on transportation accessibility by rail, highway and air, the town economy and services, the trading area, tax incentives and rebates, as well as information on the renovations completed, the size of the building, the site size and services to the site.
Advertising Strategy
Once this information is compiled an advertising strategy will be impletmented to carry the project to completion. A Facebook page will be set up and maintained, a YouTube video promoting the project will be created and an audio advertisement for a 30 second radion commercial will be created. Advertising rates from various business magazines, newspapers, radions and websites will be researched. Website links to applicable websites such as Community Futures Newsask and Enterprise Saskatchewan will be investigated and real estate options will be explored. Options that fit our budget will be implemented.
September, 2011 Update on project: The municipality was able to rent out this building with an option to purchase. It is also presently listed through a realtor in Saskatoon.
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Project 2
Northeast Newcomer Service
Total Votes: 47
| Click on the Facebook link or log in to your Facebook page and search for "Driving For Change - Newsask Community Challenge" |
Click on the YouTube link or log in to your YouTube account and search for Driving For Change |
30 Second Radio Ad copy to air if this project wins. |
Driving for Change
In rural Saskatchewan, newcomers face a barrage of barriers to employment. One of the first that comes to most of our minds is language. Federal and provincial governments have recognized this and throught LINC program provide funding to local colleges' who provide English second language training to our immigrants.
However, often overlooked in the rural setting is transportation and its importance to daily life and most importantly employability. Immigrants in large urban centers have access to public transportation, thus allowing them to access grocery stores, social and cultural groups, a warm ride to and from school for children, childcare and jobs.
Immigrant women are responsible for the daily running of the household such as grocery shopping, picking the children up from school, etc. These women often take jobs that work around their family schedules and often thismeans evening or night shifts at low skilled jobs. even then public transportation schedules are reduced and can be a barrier for these women.
Rural Saskatchewan offers the same barriers, but with the added barrier of no public transportation at any time of the day. Small centers can even lack basic taxi service, although most immigrants see this as a luxury item and only in most extreme cases will access this service. Having a driver's license is a necessity not a luxury here.
A driver's license plays a pivotal role in fostering social, economic and cultural integration in rural Saskatchewan, as well as potentially improving women's position in the labour market. By funding eligible participants for driver training we give these women a chance to improve the life of their families, incrase their self confidence, and increase the labour market they have access to.
Driver training would consist of 6 hours in class time and 6 hours of in car with a certified instructor.
June, 2011 Update on project: Driver training is currently underway - this essential life skill will allow access to the community and to jobs as well as continuing education opportunities.
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Project 4
World Kitchen Community Group
Total Votes: 33
| Click on the Facebook link or log in to your Facebook page and search for "International Cooking Classes" |
Click on the YouTube link or log in to your YouTube account and search for International Cooking Classes. |
30 Second Radio Ad copy to air if this project wins. |
International Cooking Classes in Tisdale.
Have you ever been in the Ukraine, Phillippines, India, Germany, or in South Africa?
Now you have these possibilities with our International Cooking Classes. you can take a piece of these wonderful countries with you and share with your friends and families.
the classes will run for 5 weeks. Each week will be dedicated for one cuisine of a certain country.
The classes will be run by women from that country and you can learn how to cook their national food from original source.
And don't worry, we will supply you with all necessary ingredients, cooking supplies and other stuff.
Just come and enjoy your new experience.
Total participants around 10 to 15 people. the classes can be sustainable because there are a lot of recipes. These classes are a good chance to open a new catering business with international cuisine.
Thanks to everyone for your votes
When the votes are tallied, the project with the most votes will get the 1st place prize of $3000, Second place is $2000; Third place is $1000; Fourth place is $500.
The Challenges
- 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 that November 1, 2010.
- November 8, 2010 - Create a Facebook Fan Page to promote your idea and market it to the region. Submit your Facebook link to Newsask by November 8. Responsibly encourage your Facebook networks to join your fan page. Positively represent any partners and Community Futures Newsask.
- November 15, 2010 - Create a YouTube video promoting your project. Submit your YouTube link to Newsask by November 15.
- November 22, 2010 - Create an audio advertisement for a 30 second radio commercial to be submitted in writing (paragraph form). Submit your ad to Newsask by November 22.
Newsask will require a status update on the winning projects within six months of the declaration of prize winners. If the project has not been completed by that date, status updates will be required at six month intervals until project completion.
Click here for information for the
2011 Challenge 4 Communities
