How do we repopulate rural areas?

[Zephyr]

You sort of highlighted one problem there zephyr, these guys had to use private funding. The banks are very leery about unestablished businesses.

we looked once at buying a gas station with carwash and hoops we had to jump through were unbelievable. The bank manager just said wouldn't you rather buy some more land?

I don't think the business climate is as good as you think it is.

I'm not sure that is a 'problem'..

Coming from the fact that we [our family unit] operate 4 separate commercial business entities in addition to the family farm, two of which operate internationally, I can speak from experience, but:


Banks almost never fund startups - anywhere.

Even in the USA...

That's what venture capital, private equity, angel investors, and crowd funding, plus government programs like IRC's IRAP are for.


Once you have a proven business, banks will finance you. This is how business works.


Farmers have a special relationship in certain ways with lenders... in that banks will lend to new producers.

This is good, but also bad depending on how you look at it.

[Sheepwheat]

I can vouch for new idea funding by banks, specifically fcc. It is simply impossible to get money for start ups in my experience, no matter projections, no matter equity position. They want results, they want proof.

[Sheepwheat]

FWIW, I personally have ideas on repopulating, but I don’t have answers, which is why I put the question out there. Interesting thoughts so far. Thanks.

[fjlip]

Where population is low and other business /employment are few, it is tough. A restaurant in Archerwill has been closed and for sale for two years. It is less than 10 years old and near hunting fishing lake area. You are in an ideal area AB5.

[malleefarmer]

You sort of highlighted one problem there zephyr, these guys had to use private funding. The banks are very leery about unestablished businesses.

we looked once at buying a gas station with carwash and hoops we had to jump through were unbelievable. The bank manager just said wouldn't you rather buy some more land?

I don't think the business climate is as good as you think it is.

Hindsight betcha the gas station would have been a great investment sadly fo you didn’t happen

[furrowtickler]

The other thread is an extension of the way I think.

So ppl, how do we revitalize rural western Canada if we keep this goofy commodity agriculture mindset?

Should have focused on families and encouraged more child tax credits to promote larger families a long time ago .

[grassfarmer]

We need to be breeding! Splitting up our farms with multiple kids! Oh wait, our farms aren’t big enough to be feasible hardly for one kid. Lol

It works for the Hutterites.

[WiltonRanch]

Should have focused on families and encouraged more child tax credits to promote larger families a long time ago .

Zeitgeist my friend. More to it than money.

[grefer]

Has anyone else noticed that there are certain areas/centers that seem to breed more entrepreneurial types than others. Outside of the normal ag businesses I mean. My area seems very poor in that. I have admired other areas that have an entrepreneurial mindset. At least from the outside looking in.

[Guest]

Has anyone else noticed that there are certain areas/centers that seem to breed more entrepreneurial types than others. Outside of the normal ag businesses I mean. My area seems very poor in that. I have admired other areas that have an entrepreneurial mindset. At least from the outside looking in.

annehiem, humboldt, st brieux, etc.