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Community Futures Central Kootenay

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Community Futures Central Kootenay

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Community Futures Central Kootenay is a not-for-profit economic development organization.

We are committed to helping people in the Central Kootenay region who are currently operating or are about to start their own business.

10/30/2026

From a home piano studio to a thriving music and art school…meet Ellie from Nelson Studio88.

For 20 years, this Nelson-raised musician and teacher shared her passion for music from a small piano studio in her home. But she had a bigger dream: to create a space where more people could discover their creativity while still enjoying the personal connections that made her home studio special.

In September 2022, that dream became Nelson Studio88, a music and art school in the heart of her hometown.

The name has a special meaning too. “Nelson” honours the community where Ellie grew up, “88” represents the keys on a piano, and “Studio” is a nod to where it all began.

Fast forward four years, and Nelson Studio88 now has a team of local instructors and more than 140 students, ranging from three-year-olds to adults! Students can explore everything from piano, voice, guitar and drums to art, musical theatre, music production, film scoring and improv.

And Nelson Studio88 has become more than a school. It's also a gathering place for the community, hosting book launches, meetings, rehearsals and events like the Kootenay Festival of the Arts.

“Studio88 is a place to slow down, tap into creativity and find inspiration,” says Ellie. “It's a space to discover something new, or to nourish what's already within.”

Congratulations to Ellie on four years of Nelson Studio88 and more than two decades of sharing her love of music with the community!

Learn more at https://nelsonstudio88.com/

10/29/2026

Hiring internationally trained ECEs, or thinking about it?

The Kootenay Childcare Initiative is hosting a free webinar to help childcare employers understand the latest updates to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), including its renewed focus on childcare.

📌 BC PNP 2026 Program Updates
📅 November 5 | 4:00 PM PCT (5:00 PM MST)
🔗 Register: https://kootenaychildcare.ca/bc-pnp-webinar/

10/29/2026

Do you work or run a business in the Kootenays and identify as Indigenous, Black or a Person of Colour (IBPOC)? Intercultural Kootenays wants to hear from you!

Intercultural Kootenays is developing anti-racism and decolonization training for businesses, non-profits and service clubs across the region. They're asking IBPOC community members to share their perspectives and help shape this project.

Take 10 minutes to complete the anonymous survey! You'll be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 gift cards to a local business of your choice.

Complete the survey by October 31 → https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGjp8iTRbRqaGr_-kq4E9TIIrPLDS8_9YqnEX7QVzRhbrfDg/viewform

10/26/2026

Are you paying to work or getting paid to work? That's the question our Loans and Operations Manager, Paul Kelly, wants early-stage business owners to think about this Small Business Month as part of our ‘A Little Advice Goes a Long Way’ series.

His advice? Calculate your break-even point before you start your business, and again a few months after you start. Your break-even point is the amount of sales you need to cover your costs without making a profit or taking a loss. As Paul puts it, it's your “ride or die” sales volume!

“The longer you take to hit break-even, the more you are ‘paying to work’ instead of ‘getting paid to work.’ If it takes too long, you run out of money.”

So, how do you figure out your break-even point? Paul shares a simple formula: Break-even sales = Overhead ÷ Gross margin %

And here's one thing you can do this week: Go through your bookkeeping or business bank account and make sure you've captured ALL your current monthly recurring overhead expenses.

How do those numbers compare to your original projections?

Recalculate your break-even point as soon as you have actual expense numbers coming in, and regularly after that too!

Understanding your numbers can help you make better decisions about pricing, expenses and how much you need to sell to keep your business going.

10/22/2026

When a community shows up for a local business, great things can happen!

For Alana, owner of MUD Ceramic Studio & Shop in downtown Nelson, growing demand for pottery classes, workshops and creative experiences meant it was time for a bigger space.

MUD Ceramics Studio & Shop moved to a new location on Baker Street in July. It’s three times the size of the previous location, with 13 pottery wheels, two kilns, and more room for classes, pottery painting and locally made ceramics.

Behind that growth is an incredibly supportive community and team who have helped Alana build a welcoming space where people of all ages and experience levels can come together, learn something new and get creative.

Community Futures Central Kootenay is proud to have supported MUD’s expansion through business financing. Our Business Loans Manager, Paul Kelly, was thrilled to work with Alana. For her, having someone who understood her vision made a real difference.

“Paul was so easily able to capture what the business needed in order to continue to grow, and not only that, but he really believed in our business, and that meant a lot,” says Alana.

Congratulations to Alana and the MUD team on this exciting next chapter! We’re so happy to have played a part in helping this local business grow.

Learn more about MUD Ceramic Studio: www.mudceramicsclub.com

And if you’re looking for support for your business, learn more about our financing options here → www.futures.bc.ca/business-loans

10/21/2026

Congratulations to Bindoya Meats and Treats in Creston, the winner of our Small Business Month “Take a Break” giveaway!

You've won a $250 wellness package to enjoy at three local businesses of your choice. Whether it's a good meal, a little pampering or some well-deserved downtime, we hope you enjoy taking a break!

A big thank you to everyone who entered and tagged their favourite local businesses. 💚 It was great to see so many wonderful businesses getting some love in the comments!

And to all the small business owners in our community, we hope you find a little time for yourself this month. You deserve it!

Happy Small Business Month from all of us at Community Futures Central Kootenay!

10/21/2026

🐸 Eat the frog first! That's the advice our Start-Up Business Advisor, Amber McGregor, is sharing for Small Business Month as part of our ‘A Little Advice Goes a Long Way’ series.

What does it mean? Start your morning with the tasks you're most tempted to put off. Then do the work you love in the afternoon.

"In the early days, business owners have to learn and do a bit of everything, including tasks that don't come naturally,” says Amber. “It's easy to put those tasks off, especially when they make you feel out of your depth."

Amber says tackling those tasks first gets them off your mind and into your workflow, freeing you to focus on the work that plays to your strengths.

Her advice for putting this into practice? Time-block your to-do list.

Start by separating your tasks into must do and would like to do. Then divide your must-dos into tasks you enjoy and tasks you tend to avoid. Give each task a realistic, non-negotiable time slot in your calendar.

This helps you get better at estimating how long tasks take, moves you away from that never-ending to-do list and makes sure essential, needle-moving work gets done instead of being put off.

After all, when you're running a small business, you'll need to do both the work you love and the work you'd rather avoid, at least until you can afford to pay someone else to do it!

🐸 What's the frog on your to-do list this week? Let us know in the comments!

Learn more about our Start-Up Business Advisor program here → https://futures.bc.ca/start-up-advisor/

10/20/2026

Meet the faces behind the services and programs that help people start, expand and run small businesses in the Central Kootenay!

Our team is small but mighty. 💪 Everyone in our crew plays a key role in supporting small businesses across the region.

⭐️ Andrea, Executive Director. She has been leading our experienced team and volunteer board for 13 years. Andrea recently completed the Whistler GranFondo.

⭐️ Paul, Business Loans Manager. He knows how the right financing can help build a thriving business. Paul loves biking and cross-country skiing.

⭐️ Tammy, Bookkeeper. She keeps our financial records accurate and organized, ensuring the books are balanced and everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

⭐️ Sam, Executive Assistant. She provides support to our Executive Director and Board of Directors. Prior to joining us, she was a reporter and photographer for the Nelson Star!

⭐️ Ali, Community Economic Development Coordinator. She helps grow and strengthen our local economy by building partnerships and initiatives that support small businesses. Ali’s happy place is her ever-fruitful garden.

⭐️ Bryan, Finance Manager. He makes sure that we have the financial clarity to provide services to the community. He enjoys a variety of sporting activities both on the television and real life.

⭐️ Amber, Start-Up Business Advisor. She helps entrepreneurs transform their ideas into flourishing businesses. She is as likely to be digging holes in the garden or working endlessly on her never-ending 100-year-old house as she is wearing a giraffe onesie to Starbelly Jam.

⭐️ Val, Business Loans Analyst. She guides entrepreneurs through their financial needs to set them up for success. She’s been with us for over 30 years!

⭐️ Sasha, Start-Up Business Advisor. She works alongside Amber to helps new entrepreneurs launch their burgeoning businesses. Sasha lives on a small hobby farm in Nelson.

Learn more about Community Futures Central Kootenay here → https://futures.bc.ca/programs-services/

10/15/2026

Starting a business is never easy. Starting a business when you're the mom of a toddler is extra challenging. But that’s exactly what Kyla Jakovickas did back in 2012 when, with the support of her family, she opened Bellaflora.

“Being able to create my own schedule and have my girl in the studio with me felt like the right path for our family,” she says. “Working with flowers and plants on a daily basis was a dream come true.”

Kyla was no novice when she opened her floral design studio. She had spent years growing cut flowers for local markets and weddings. And while she honed her skills as a florist abroad, it’s in Nelson, her hometown, that she decided to fulfill her lifelong dream.

“This location, tucked away in Herridge Lane, is like a lush, light-filled oasis,” Kyla explains. “It was specifically chosen for its many huge skylights and high ceilings, allowing us to feel connected to nature while working, and for the plants to thrive in all of the natural light.”

Despite the many challenges that come with running a small business, for Kyla, the rewards outweigh the difficulties.

“The human connection is one of the aspects I love the most about this business,” she says. “We get to be a part of people’s stories, from the happiest of occasions to the most heartbreaking.”

But it’s not just flowers, plants and vessels that you’ll find at Bella Flora Studio. Kyla also makes space to support local makers by displaying artisanal teas, ceramics, cards, jewellery and more.

The biggest lesson that Kyla has drawn from the past 14 years? There are different ways to measure success.

“Over the years I’ve come to realize that, for me, success is about creating a business that feels meaningful, helps support my family, provides a beautiful place for people to work and contributes something positive to the community.”

Congratulations on 14 of business, Kyla! Here’s to many more flower-filled years! 💐

Learn more at https://bellaflorastudio.com/

10/14/2026

October is Small Business Month! 🎉

Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for years, it's a great time to invest in yourself and your business. Mycommunityfutures is offering three free workshops to help you continue learning, adapting, and growing.

Upcoming workshops:
🔹 October 20: Strategic Planning for Small Businesses
🔹 October 21: Digital Transformation for Small Businesses
🔹 October 22: Strategic Partnerships for Small Businesses

✨ All myCommunityFutures workshops are delivered online. They are free to attend for anyone living in the Kootenays and most of rural BC.

Learn more and register at myCommunityFuturesBC.ca

Address

203, 514 Vernon Street
Nelson, BC
V1L4E7

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

250-352-1933

Website

http://www.futures.bc.ca/

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