Organizational Information:

Aboriginal Business Development Centre (ABDC) is a non-profit society, incorporated under the British Columbia Society Act in July of 1997. We are a results oriented team of professionals, working together in unity to provide a full spectrum of culturally, client sensitive, business and economic development services to assist Aboriginal individuals, organizations and communities to achieve their full potential. We assist clients with market research, business plan development, financial forecasting, small business loan acquisition, community economic development, economic development training and conference coordination. Our client list is approximately over 1300.

Program Description:

ABDC has been offering a Financial Literacy program since April 2008 and covers topics such as assets, budgeting, consumerism, credit, and banking. The program has three components: Financial Literacy Information workshops, Rent Bank Loan, and Saving Circle. These programs interlink as clients of the Rent Bank Loan and Saving Circle are required to participate in the Financial Literacy workshops.

The Rent Bank program is new not only to Prince George, but also to the province of British Columbia. The program provides loans for families and individuals to help secure housing, prevents residential evictions, avoids termination of utilities and assists homeless individuals with a loan for damage deposit, utility hook-up costs and first month's rent. This program will reduce homelessness by enabling homeless individuals to make the transition from emergency shelters to affordable rental tenure housing.

Saving Circle is an asset building program that supports low-income individuals to build assets, and develop a personal financial capability in knowledge and practice. It is a free program offering low-income people the opportunity to save towards required equity and gain money management skills. The development of regular savings behavior is encouraged and personal financial capability in knowledge and practice is developed.

Target Participant Criteria

At this time the program is limited to low income Aboriginal residents living within the city limits of Prince George, BC.

Program Contact Information:

Phone: 250.562.6325
Email: llauder@bcgroup.net

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