ACRE APPLAUDS RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS

The head of the Action Committee on the Rural Economy (ACRE) said she is encouraged by the recent announcement of a provincial initiative to assist with the development and growth of small businesses in Saskatchewan.

ACRE Chair Audrey Horkoff says the Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan and the new Saskatchewan Entrepreneurial Fund are a welcome response to ACRE's efforts to find solutions for the rural economy.

"Many of our subcommittees identified that the development of entrepreneur support systems were critical to move the rural economy ahead," Horkoff said. "Those with a new business idea need help to take the first steps that make their idea a reality."

Deputy Premier and Rural Development Minister Clay Serby noted that ACRE first identified the need for entrepreneurial support in its March 2002 report to government, and later described what form that support should take in its May 2005 report. "Government values the substantive work of ACRE and we are pleased to be able to provide an additional mechanism for economic growth," Serby said.

"The rural people we spoke to during our consultations said that there were two distinct gaps in Saskatchewan's entrepreneurial support," Horkoff said. "New entrepreneurs said it was hard to find people that could mentor them on how to set up a business or answer their questions on what steps to take in expanding their business. They also said that it was really difficult to secure funding for small projects."

Horkoff said that ACRE will continue to monitor government for responses to its other recommendations.

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For More Information, Contact:

Audrey Horkoff Action Committee on the Rural Economy Kamsack Phone: (306) 542-7630

Scott Brown Rural Development Regina Phone: (306) 787-5160