Community Future Big Country has begun a series of seminars to encourage entrepreneurship and to showcase the services the agency provides.
    So far, Community Futures has hosted two events; Ideas to Opportunities, and last week hosted a seminar on business planning.
    “Most people think about business planning to the same degree they think about going to the dentist,” chuckles Chris Curtis, board chair of Community Futures. “However, business planning can be very interesting and very helpful to people. But it can also be something that seems so arduous that people don’t want to do.
    As with business, best-laid plans are fleeting.
    “The problem with the idea of a blueprint is you expect the construction people to follow it. One of the things we know about a business plan is that the minute you do, it is obsolete. Circumstances change all the time.”
    The focus of the seminar was on the purpose of a business plan and the value of them.
    The seminar fulfills its mandate to provide advisory services to the community.
    “Hopefully at the end of the day we will get more people starting businesses, which is our ultimate goal, whether it is through financing or through workshops, we would love people to start their businesses,” said Curtis.
    Community Futures has two more seminars coming up. On April 8, they are hosting a Creative Resourcefulness seminar, focusing on getting what you need to start a business without investing a lot of resources.
    “This seminar looks at what you really need. Are there things you can get that you don’t have to pay full price for?  There are many things you can get by trading services, bartering etc.  And maybe we don’t need things right away,” he says.   
    On May 13, they are hosting a seminar on dealing with people.
    “Dealing with people is really the core of what entrepreneurship is about,” said Curtis.
    For more information or to learn how to register for the upcoming seminars, go to http://bigcountry.albertacf.com/

    
    Habitat for Humanity is gaining momentum and it appears it has passed the midway point in their capital campaign.
    Habitat for Humanity is poised to breaking ground on a duplex development in North Drumheller in about a year. It has the ambitious goal to raise about $200,000 in donations to make the project possible.
    Chris Curtis, Habitat for Humanity Drumheller and District committee chair, is encouraged by the campaign.
    “We are between half and two-thirds of the way there,’ said Curtis.
     Getting to this point they have taken on some unique fundraising endeavours including the Climb the Dinosaur campaign last summer, and earlier this year hosted a “pop-up” dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
    Looking forward, they are planning a Mexican fiesta on Cinco de Mayo.
    The involvement is also from students. Grade 8 Student at St. Anthony’s School Tyler Merkowsky, took it upon himself to organize a book sale at his school and raised $325. Principal JoAnne Akerboom is proud of Tyler’s efforts.
    Curtis said with this progress, they are not far off from beginning to search for families to purchase the homes.
    “We will be starting that process probably within a month or two,” said Curtis. “We go through the process of identifying and prequalifying families, and then the final decision is made in conjunction with our head office in Calgary.”
    He said they have a strong and growing board of volunteers, however, they are looking for those with trade skills when it comes to construction.
    “One thing we have had to come to grips with is, it is more difficult for volunteers to work on the house than we had first thought. Because we want to build a quality house, Habitat for Humanity is making a decision to get volunteers involved, but not for some of the critical components.
    For more information on the project go to the Habitat for Humanity, Drumheller and District Facebook page.