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Microlending for Women in Ontario Program

The program supports low-income women who are seeking to start their own business by providing financial literacy training, entrepreneurial mentoring and skills development and life skills support. These skills will ensure women’s success in starting and growing their businesses.

Women who become business ready within these programs will be eligible to receive small loans (microloans) to start their businesses. The Microlending for Women in Ontario program will provide close to 400 microloans. In total, over 800 low-income women will receive business readiness supports and financial skills training to help them on a successful path as entrepreneurs.

Programs:

• Connect Legal: Toronto
  Connect Legal will provide women in microlending programs with tailored workshops to address important legal issues related to microenterprises.

  Contact:
  Priscilla Chen
  Program Development Officer
  pchen@connectlegal.ca
  416-964-3933

• Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund: Northwestern Ontario
  Nishnawbe-Aski Development Fund will establish four new microlending circles for Aboriginal women in northwestern Ontario.

  Contact:
  Colleen Martin
  General Manager
  cmartin@nadf.org
  807-623-5397 ext. 26

• PARO: Northeastern Ontario
  PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise will expand its existing microlending program into remote communities in northeastern Ontario for Aboriginal, Francophone and rural women.

  Contact:
  Maria Talarico
  Program Developer
  mariat@paro.ca
  807-625-0328

• Welland Heritage Council: Niagara Region
  The Welland Heritage Council will develop a new microlending program for immigrant and Francophone women in the Niagara Region.

  Contact:
  Marilyn Rickard
  Operations Manager
  mrickard@wellandheritagecouncil.com
  905-732-5337 ext. 128

• Women’s Centre of York Region: York Region
  The Women’s Centre of York Region will develop a new microloan program in York Region by providing graduates of their business training program with microloans in a business start-up environment.

  Contact:
  Geraldine Pitschke
  Coordinator, Enterprising Business Incubator Program
  gpitschke@wcyr.ca
  905-853-9270 ext. 205
  

• YWCA Hamilton: Hamilton and area
  YWCA of Hamilton will develop a new microlending program that will allow women in the Hamilton region to access start-up investments.

  Contact:
  Aurelia Tokaci
  Manager of Employment Services
  atokaci@ywcahamilton.org
  905-522-9922 ext. 151