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Success Stories
Provenience
Art
Provenience Art is a
successful art framing shop. The owner came to Community Futures North
Fraser in December 2004 looking for financing to purchase property in
Mission’s downtown core. Until March/05, he leased the premises to two
separate tenants while operating his framing business in a different
location. In March 2005, the owner renovated the property, and built
additional gallery and storage space. He then moved his business into the
newly renovated premises and has since been operating quite successfully.
Pete's
Place
In February 2003, the owner approached us for a start up
loan to open a take-out pizza shop. The enterprise has been very successful
and the restaurant is now known by locals to have the “best” pizza in
Mission.
Alleycat
Hemlines
In December 2008, the owner was referred to us by a
previous client. After working as a seamstress for a fabric shop in
downtown Mission, the owner had the opportunity to open her own shop. The
fabric shop owner decided to retire and go out of business, and offered to
sell her his inventory. Alleycat Hemlines proceeded to develop a very sound
business plan with the help of Community Futures North Fraser Business
Counsellor. Community Futures North Fraser financed the inventory and
leasehold improvements and the owner will be moving into her new shop in
the next few weeks.
BC Sport Fishing
Group Ltd.
BC
Sport Fishing Group Ltd. has been operating in the Fraser Valley since
1978. In 1999, with the help of a loan from Community Futures North
Fraser, what started out as a custom tackle shop and fishing tours out of
Chilliwack, has evolved into one of the premiere sport fishing guided
tour and eco-tour companies in the Fraser Valley, with its main office
located in Harrison Hot Springs. The company began as a sole proprietorship
in 1978 and grew to a partnership in 2000 when Mr. Nootesbos came on
board. In early 2008, when his
partner chose to retire, Mr. Nootebos,
took over the company and is now the sole shareholder. The company currently employs 22 guides
and a relatively new offering of eco tours will employ an additional 2
people.
BC
Sport Fishing Group offers guided day trips; multi day guiding packages;
fly fishing; boat tours and eco tours. Clientele is global and
the company is featured regularly on European sport fishing television
programs as well as North American programs, including National Geographic
where they were featured in early October/09 in a program called “Megafish
Project”. In September/09, Tony Nootesbos and his company were
featured in B.C.A.A.’s fall “Westworld” magazine. Mr. Nootebos, is passionate about fish
stewardship and protecting the environment. He is actively
involved with environmental sustainability, is on the Board of the Sturgeon
Conservation Society, is a member of the Fraser River Salmon Society and
has been involved in several Government roundtable discussions regarding
fish stocks and recreational fishing.
In
early 2009, CF North Fraser was happy to be able to help again with a loan
for a more eco friendly boat so that the company could expand and offer
more eco tours.
Check
out the website at www.bcsportfishinggroup.com
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