This innovative project, a partnership of several community agencies, is intended to create a number of full-time employment opportunities for women in the value-added wood products business.

A number of giftware products have been designed utilizing waste wood from local mills. These products will be marketed at a number of major giftware shows in Western Canada, and orders will be taken at those shows to supply product to retail outlets or giftware suppliers.

The women participating in the project have selected to operate under the business name of 'From the Ground Up'.

The project is being directed by a volunteer Steering Committee, who have dedicated a great deal of time over the last 2 years to get the project to this stage of development.

A small woodworking shop opened last month to provide the women involved in the project with the facilities they need to produce wooden giftware products, to provide hands-on training for the participants, and to develop the other supports the women will need to operate a business.

The "employer" will initially be the Revelstoke Community Skills Centre, but the long-term goal is to spin-off the business into an enterprise operated and managed by the participants.

A market study was undertaken and a business plan developed with financial assistance from several community and government agencies. The market study indicated that the giftware business had a growing and vibrant market, and that it had the potential to provide a rate of remuneration that would provide a good standard of living.

The goal of the project is to create a number of sustainable jobs through the development of the woodworking shop.

Over time, it is anticipated that the revenues generated from product sales will support between 10-15 workers in the enterprise.

[BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS]