A Foothills entrepreneur didn’t know what Community Futures was until she received the help and support she needed to make it through COVID.
Margot Anderson, CEO of Prairie Wind Productions, had never heard of the non-profit organization until she was exploring the Business Resilience and Recovery funding offered by Community Futures. The grants were similar in context to the federal government’s aid through its Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) but were open to more business owners because the parameters were not as tight.
Like Anderson, those who had not qualified for CEBA because they had paid themselves in dividends or had businesses that were too new (they hadn’t filed taxes prior to 2019), were able to turn to Community Futures branches across the country to receive support and assistance.
“When I think of Community Futures I see this big angel with wings because they’ve done so much for me,” said Anderson.
With the CEBA grant and other funding she was made aware of, Anderson was able to purchase tools and equipment for her business, which produces films telling Alberta agriculture stories as well as providing bed and bale services for horse owners and equine massage.
One of Anderson’s main focuses is on equine health and therapy, and she is also certified with dogs. She used a $5,000 grant to purchase an infrared thermal camera, which helps identify areas of pain in the animals she treats.
“I’m down at the grounds (rodeo ground) using it like crazy because everyone wants to know what’s wrong with their horse,” said Anderson. “It’s fabulous.”
For Anderson, it’s not just about supporting her own business – she lends out her tools to women just getting started in the field of animal massage and kinesiology. One of the items is a pulsating electromagnetic horse blanket.
“So they can come and take this blanket for free, take it out and charge money – they charge $75 per hour,” she said. “They’re creating their own wealth and experience by coming and using my tools.”
She has been attaining certifications through Holistic Animal Studies and is one of three Canadian diamond-level practitioners specializing in cranosacral therapy, cold laser therapy, kinesiology taping, animal reiki therapy, and neuro-myofacial therapy
Her goal is to have more people train with Holistic Animal Studies, and then start a group wherein if someone is looking for a particular tool they can arrange to have it delivered.
The courses can be expensive, at $300 US for some of the kinesiology for canines or equines, but she said those who are working through programs can earn money as they gain education by borrowing her tools.
“They’re using my blanket, or my other tools, to make money to pay for the courses,” said Anderson. “Anything I can do that will raise them up in education – and I’m having so much fun doing it.”
She finds new clients by helping out those who are still learning as well. People at different barns hear about the work she does in fields like neuro-myofacial therapy and ask her to work with their horses at the same time as a student might be treating another animal with the blanket.
“What you give is what you get,” said Anderson. “For me it’s working out great. I’m making new friends, getting new students.”
She was able to continue her massage and kinesiology work, as well as the philanthropic side of her business, thanks to the help she received from Community Futures Highwood. Not only was she pointed in the direction of grants, but Anderson was given a business mentor and the opportunity to take in several workshops over Zoom.
Sara Noyes, executive director of Community Futures Highwood, said the organization was pleased to help Anderson and other businesses who needed a hand up during 2020.
They were able to help loan clients through coaching or holding interest payments to try to help business owners stay on their feet, as well as providing programs and funds using government grant money, she said.
The Business Resiliency and Recovery project was able to connect entrepreneurs with workshops and up to 15 hours of free coaching sessions, and the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund provided more than $1.7 million to business owners who were struggling during COVID.
“We spread out those funds through the region,” said Noyes.
She said despite the hardships they have witnessed at Community Futures, being able to connect with more business owners has been a positive outcome of a bad situation.
“We’re thrilled to be able to help and we have met and been able to serve so many clients we don’t normally, like the Margots of the world,” said Noyes. “When you’re in a place to help, we just did. We were in a place where we knew we had grant funding available and we knew it was needed.”
