Branching Out Support Services and the Dufferin Board of Trade were two of 270 organizations across the country to receive Investment Readiness Program (IRP) grants this spring.
The IRP is a $50 million fund from the Government of Canada that helps charities, non-profits, co-ops and for-profit social enterprises enhance their operations in order to attract investment and social financing.
Branching Out Support Services (BOSS) received a $25,000 “Explore” grant to grow The Granola Project, a program that employs neuro-diverse people in the production of its Kick Start and Maple-kissed granolas. Billing its product as “Natural-Nutritious-Neurodiverse,” the granola has been selling at farmers’ markets and online, with all proceeds supporting BOSS services.
“The Granola Project is the premier avenue for people with neuro-diversities to enter the workforce at a living wage,” said Kimberly Van Ryn, founder of BOSS. “Once investors are attracted, we have the opportunity to employ more people who have massive employment barriers. It will show a community, a region, the province and the country what can be done with real food and huge human potential.”
With the grant, BOSS will do a market analysis, achieve B-Corp Accreditation (which allows investors to be confident in their economic and ethical structures), and engage a social enterprise expert to prepare it for investment and social financing opportunities.
Dufferin Board of Trade (DBOT) received a $38,000 “Stabilize and Build” grant to take its social enterprise, the Dufferin Biz Hub, to the next level of investment-readiness.
The Dufferin Biz Hub, which also benefited from an IRP grant in 2020 when it was just starting up, provides professional work space and support to local businesses and nonprofits.
The current grant will be used to develop an evidence-based social business model, conduct a sustainability analysis, and increase the products and services offered by the Biz Hub.
“We empower rural business leaders, entrepreneurs, new Canadians looking to start businesses, and local nonprofits by providing the resources, innovations, and connections they need locally. This project will help us determine the most-needed products and services we can offer to the community moving forward.” Said Diana Morris, Executive Director of Dufferin Board of Trade.
Dufferin Community Foundation helped promote the IRP program in Dufferin County and evaluate grant applications through the Central South-Western Ontario Region HUB.