WOMEN AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Women and Rural Economic Development :

a grant follow-up

[A Picture of the WRED Logo]

"The office is buzzing with activity, and the merchandise many rural women have produced since joining the group is displayed in the office, ranging from herbal vinegar to mohair socks for outdoor working people."

from Program Manager Gisela Shivanath's site visit report.

As they say in the business sector, WRED is a 'going concern'. Trillium's grant of $187,200 over two years, approved in June of 1995, was intended to support their community economic development initiatives, leading to economic alternatives for women whose traditional income on the farm has been diminished or eroded. Reviewers and Board members were excited about the grant. Since its inception in 1993, WRED has developed an excellent reputation as a highly credible, strong grass-roots group dedicated to developing choices for rural women. We were confident that our funds would further enable this group to improve the economic lives of many women. Based on progress to date, our confidence was well founded.

Some of their successes include:

Development of alternative economic opportunities to help rural women supplement decreasing family revenues.

Through the Rural Enterprise Development Initiative, WRED trained 344 participants and developed over 240 new businesses, with gross revenues of $4.2 million.

Rural Enterprise Loan Funds were established in Huron/Perth/Middlesex and Grey/Bruce counties, providing collateral for micro-loans of up to $3,000 each.

Development of markets for products developed by rural women

Provided a volunteer-managed booth at the Royal Winter Fair.

Partnering with Toronto Community Ventures to develop an urban market.

Developed a business directory, profiling over 200 rural businesses.

Increased skills of rural women

Business Basics, a fast-track self-employment course, has been delivered in five rural communities in the last six months.

Twenty Business Women's Networks are currently operating through the province.

Over 50 matches have been made between volunteer mentors and new business owners.

Over 50 families have taken advantage of Farm Ventures, focusing on diversifying farm businesses.

We are proud just to know these people, never mind how happy we are to be a funding partner. Their work exemplifies everything Trillium stands for - community based, forward thinking, sustainable, innovative, systemic, and economically empowering. As you can tell, we consider this a successful grant.

For more information about WRED, you can reach them through their Web site: http://www.sentex.net/~wred; or e-mail: wred@sentex.net; or telephone: (519) 273-5017.