Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) was incorporated in 1984 under the Canada Corporations Act as a not-for-profit organization. Although it is not tied directly to the NTC, it was formed to help the Nuu-chah-nulth people achieve economic and social independence by providing financial assistance and advisory services (NEDC, 2008a). NEDC manages a number of funding programs aimed at enhancing economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...

 in the region.

Roles and Responsibilities

The NEDC is an aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....

 corporation dealing with financial and business development services. It plays a major role in helping Nuu-chah-nulth communities by seizing all existing and emerging opportunities and building on the new economy. It encourages rural economic development and entrepreneurship through services available to all Aboriginal people living and operating in the Nuu-chah-nulth Territory (NEDC, 2008a).

NEDC is owned by the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations who provide the direction and sets priorities for the NEDC. Within Nuu-chah-nulth territories services are offered more broadly to all Nuu-chah-nulth, Aboriginal and Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...

 peoples  — free of charge. Some programs are offered throughout Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

 and on the Mainland. If a Nuu-chah-nulth person needs services outside of the province, NEDC will put that person into contact with the organisation that provides similar services in that locality.

Federal and provincial economic development programs are provided through this corporation. Contribution programs include:

- Commercial financing

- Business support (e.g., business planning)

- One-on-one business counselling

- Business workshops and conferences

NEDC partners with several organizations to deliver the best funding package to their clients. Some programs are run in cooperation with Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) and can be found on the ABC website (www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/abc/index-eng.asp) or from the links on the NEDC website through the NEDC Business Equity Program webpage (www.nedc.info/bep.php). Some of NEDC's other partners include Western Economic Diversification, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Business Development Bank of Canada, and the New Relationship Trust.

Due to the increasing number of successful First Nations business that have arisen over the past few years, the NEDC has compiled a business directory to help people find enterprises that match their inquiries. It also serves as a great tool to inspire other First Nations people to become entrepeneurs and the NEDC is there to help.

The directory is organized by business category and contains contact information for all of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation Bands. This can be a valuable, online tool for those exploring NEDC opportunities with and within Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations.

Administration

The Board of Directors for NEDC represents the 14 member Tribes of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC), 5 members-at-large and an appointee from the NTC.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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