Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/500892
4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATuRDAY APRIL 25, 2015 S O U T H W E S T R E G I O N A L D E V E L O P E M E N T YOUMIGHTBEMORE THANJUSTTIRED. 80%ofsleepapneasufferers goundiagnosed.RANAcanhelp. ToWakeUp.ca 18665WAKEUP (592-5387) Lynn&BillCoupland SW-30-34-29-W1 Road202N 1-204-539-2265 1-204-539-2245fax Lcoupland@mts.net www.facebook.com/lynnsplantsandthingsgreenhouse Lynn'sPlants Things ArleneKlassen WESTMAN.COM SalesAssociate •Lakeshore•Residential •Acreages•Farms Phone 204-523-6092 arlene.klassen@century21.com www.arleneklassen.com Fax204-523-5623 Pierson's 37 th AnnualCarnivalofCrafts Saturday,Oct.3,201511:30amto5:00pm EdwardsSportsCentre,Pierson,MB Lookingforqualitycrafterstojoinoursale. Contact:BettyMayes204-634-2482 bmayes@mymts.net www.carnivalofcrafts.ca Visitourwebsite www.hamiota.com VISITFOUILLARDS BUILDINGSUPPLIES inSt.LazareMb. FORALLYOURBUILDINGNEEDS 225FouillardAve. (204)683-2214 www.AdamsSupply.com Industrial•Construction•Safety MachinistSuppliesandmore.... •Abrasives&LubricantsPferd&Walter•CuttingTools•SecoWIDIA, Dormer/Pramet,Greenfield,Niagara,M.AFord,SGS•MilwaukeePower Tools •UnbrakoSocketProducts•WorkholdingSolutions-Jergens 879WallStreet,Winnipeg,ManitobaR3G2T9 Tel:204-786-7481 Fax:204-772-8131 Manitoba: 1-800-224-0377 A.ADAMS SUPPLY (1969) LTD. WeSeeHope, Courage& Inspiration... WeSeeAbility EST.1977 M a n i t oba R i d i n g Fo r T h e D i s a b l e d A s s o ci ati o n I nc . PleaseDonate 204.925.5905 www.mrda.cc www.mrda.cc PARALYZED BY FEAR? Ifyouexperience: Shortnessofbreath Tightnessofchest Dizziness RacingHeart Trembling Numbness Chokingsensations Feelingsofunreality Wecanhelp. 204-925-0600 or1(800)805-8885 www.adam.mb.ca C ommunity businesses often close due to a lack of succession planning. Once the original owners are ready to retire, they find that there's no one avail- able to take their place. "Succession planning is becoming a big issue with the boomers," explains Wendy Bulloch, project coordinator and facilitator for the Southwest Regional Development Corp. (SRDC). "They're getting older and looking to sell. If you lose a small or medium-sized business in a community, it impacts everyone." Aside from the peace of mind it can provide business owners and their families, the completion of a succession plan helps to secure the future of that business, allowing it to continue and strengthen the local economy. The SRDC held workshops on succession planning in Killarney, Hamiota, Souris and Minnedosa last spring to spread the word about the importance of this type of long- range planning. While attendance varied from town to town, Bullock says there was a good turnout at many of the events. "It's all about letting people ask questions. If they came to a meeting, they were likely already thinking about succession." Bulloch says many of the businesses that are struggling with succession planning are family farms. "We wanted to bring awareness to the many farms and agricultural businesses and provide them with background information," she says. "We start with what succession planning is, and go on from there." In early January, economic development officers from across the region were invited to a workshop. They were then asked to take the message back to their communities and share the benefits of succession planning with their local businesses. "We want to do everything we can to ensure these businesses stay in the community. A lot of people don't know where to start," Bulloch says. "All we're trying to do is share information and tell them what's out there. We've had some really positive dialogues and have shared some ideas." When it comes to a family business, these conversations can be extremely difficult to initiate, Bulloch adds. "The soft skills like communication can be harder than number-crunching," she says. "In agriculture, this is a huge issue, and it's difficult to get people to start talking about it. It's important that they sit down and have these conversations." Innovation is another focus for the SRDC, which was started in 2003 to provide economic development funding for various projects in southwestern Manitoba. It's working towards long-term economic growth, and encouraging municipalities to work together to achieve common goals. While it lost its government funding in 2012, the organization is still thriving. Bulloch says it's the only rural economic development corporation in Manitoba that is still functioning. "We have a board of volunteers who are committed to economic development in these communities," she says. One innovation project the SRDC is considering funding is gasification, which may solve current landfill issues. "Landfill waste is a huge problem in our rural communities, and gasification cooks waste until all that remains is a small pile of ash and some bits of metal and glass that can be recycled," Bulloch says. "We hope to be able to demonstrate this project by the summer." Another project will support the agricultural industry's young producers with online materials on succession. SRDC is in the process of developing an online course customized for farmers and their businesses. For more information on the SRDC and its projects, visit www.southwestrdc.mb.ca. ❙ "We want to do everything we can to ensure these businesses stay in the community. A lot of people don't know where to start," Bulloch says. "All we're trying to do is share information and tell them what's out there When a rural business closes, the shockwaves are felt throughout the community. Often there are no ready replacements for that trusted hardware store, or that boutique that sold just the right gifts, or the family farm where you got your eggs and milk every week. Future ProsPects Succession planning is vital in rural Manitoba By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press