Community Futures Southwest believes in Growing communities one idea at a time and  that small business is big business in Southwest Saskatchewan, and is proud to support businesses in the region. Our organization is excited to see small business develop, grow, and succeed. Community Futures Southwest is honored to be part of small business successes.

STAR CAFE & GRILL  is now open for business in Maple Creek. We are pleased to be a partner with this new venture with David and Tina and Barry. This top end restaurant features an excellent menu  featuring lamb, bison, Pancetta sea scallops, Chateaubriand for 2 and much, much more, all prepared for you by a first class chef. This fine dining experience is a great addition to the Southwest region and we are pleased to be a part of this venture. Be sure to check it out for that next special occasion and we are sure you won't be disappointed. For reservations call 662-2202

Great West Beef and Bison ceases operations

The Board Directors of the Great West Beef and Bison have decided the timing is not right to pursue their livestock processing plans in the Southwest.
Last Friday the doors to the Great West Beef and Bison office in Swift Current closed and the project was put in mothballs for a potential future attempt.
“The Great West Beef and Bison Committee has decided to shut down operations. And I guess it’s not something that we wanted to do, but I think it’s a case of necessity,” explained board chairperson Jim Parsons. “We have ongoing expenses and we just don’t want to burn up money.”
Parsons was quick to point out that it was never a supply issue that caused the board to rethink their project.
“It was a money issue. The packing plant concept, as I said, I think our business plan was good. It allowed probably a three year, four year stint when you wouldn’t make money, but it allowed enough money in the plan to carry it until it was stable and functioning.”
“When you talk $41 or $45 million, for producers put up that kind of money, is impossible. There is not enough return on a packing plant to carry a heavy debt load.”
“The only way that I think our committee sees that this thing can possibly work would be, maybe an interest free guaranteed or government loan, or something where we would take money off the animals as they come in to buy the producer’s shares and pay the loan back. That’s the only way this would work.”
During their three years in operation, Great West Beef changed their focus in order to get their project off the ground.
“One of the big obstacles was that we had gone from the packing plant concept to the assembly yard idea, and we were hoping to ship cattle to a packing plant or a slaughter house, but we haven’t been able to secure a slaughter house that would kill for us, and so it really left us with no where to go and we just decided that we had to close down operations.”
Parsons noted that one bright spot was that the committee was able to return $47,000 back to their original producer investors.
“I think there’s some positives to be had here. We do have a business plan that cost us $250,000. It’s a good business plan for a packing plant, and should things change in the next few months, it can still be revisited. The committee doesn’t just want to quit and disappear here. We’ve agreed to meet again in a couple of months. Maybe talk to the two government’s who are involved.”
“We also have a business plan to do an assembly yard, and it looked very favourable other than the fact that we can’t secure a contract to have people kill for us. So both of those business plans are available.”
He noted the committee will be meeting again in a couple of months, and depending on the political climate, may pursue the project once more.
“We need something here and we need a packing plant here. We have the cattle here, and we should be doing the processing here.”
“Of course there’s disappointment in the fact that we don’t have a packing plant. I guess I still staunchly believe that this is the area for one. We have the cattle here. We’re paying a lot of freight in the cattle that we ship today, and the freight probably would, in over 20 years or 25 years, the freight would probably build a packing plant.”

Swift Current Regional Airport has been a project for approximately 18 months and is progressing according to plan.

April 25 2007

It is difficult to justify a meeting for meeting sake. Here is an update and some good news. I continue to gather information for the preparation of a business plan. I met with Highways and discussed signage for the highways. I will now be working with Dawn Schmidt --- sign standard analyst to determine where, size  and how many. Also discuses with Harold Hugg--- director of policy and programs--- The process to apply for the monies allocated in the budget for airports. This as you may recall was $ 500,000.00. It will be out shortly and appears to be 50 cent dollars. I turned the information over to Rob at the city.   Thanks to Janet and Saskatchewan Aviation Council for all their hard work over the years to help get this into the budget!!!!!   Also had Harold send be information on the what funding may be available to get the business plan done.   Did you Know that Ed Wiens Hanger is just about completed??? Way to go Ed!!   Did you know that someone is going to build another one!!!   I have been also working with carriers in the industry for their proposals for sched runs----- interestingly there is growing interest and I hope they come through as promised in the next few weeks.   I am also working with the city to identify a small lead REGIONAL steering committee from our group of committed supporters. So things are happening and I will keep you informed.   I'm excited --still !!!!

Aug 8th

We assisted in completion of an application for the new CAP funding for the city and the application has been processed. This is great news and will assist in the development of the project. We met with our partners at the Regina Airport Authority yesterday and they are going to help us in 2 areas of the projection Information on Banking and continued assistance with the airline industry. The E- Center staff working with Karen Bonesky have been doing some research on grants and historic funding possibilities. This is great. We have had some discussion with individuals who are interested in pursuing sched service and will continue to do so.

Junior Achievement returns to the Southwest!!! We sponsored a JA class in Leader in October of 2007 and participated in the delivery of the program. The Economics of Staying in School (ESIS) was paid for by our corporation at a cost of $ 500.00 was paid for by the Sand Hills Credit Union  and delivered to approximately 17 students--- showing them why they should stay in school and need an education.

Plans for the new year include at least 2 projects of Economics of Staying in School.

SHAUNAVON ETHANOL PROJECT RECEIVES ANOTHER LARGE INVESTMENT

Community Futures Southwest has signed a $150,000 share agreement with Cypress Agri Energy based on their recent offering to producers and non producers to move the Ethanol project near Shaunavon forward. John Parker, General Manager presented Jack Salmon, President of Cypress Agri Energy with the signed agreement at a Shaunavon Town Council meeting on October 15th.  Parker said that Community Futures has worked with Cypress Agri Energy in the past through their partnership with Action Southwest on the ethanol symposium in October 2006.  His Investment Committee reviewed the memorandum and are confident to invest in a project that will expand the economy of the southwest region.  

Parker is aware that others are now stepping up to also support this project and says that it is great to see people are now realizing what a great opportunity this is for producers and non-producers.  This is a real investment in our future, said Parker.   

An ethanol facility in Southwest Saskatchewan represents an opportunity to add value to the agriculture industry and an opportunity for the people of the southwest to embark on a new and prosperous future, said Parker. The network of regional partners who are represented on Community Futures and Action Southwest believe that it is time to invest in our own future and make change happen and the Cypress Agri Energy project is another way we can do that. 

For more details on the project you can contact Cypress Agri Energy at 297-3313 or visit their website at www.cypressagrienergy.ca

Contact:

John Parker                                                                        

Swift Current

Phone:  778-4242          

Jack Salmon

Shaunavon

Phone: 297-3313

Action Southwest

Swift Current

Phone: 778-6445