Calgary, Alberta (November 12th, 2015)

Created by the Trico Charitable Foundation in 2011, the famous social EnterPrize is a bi-annual grant that focuses on Canadian social enterprises that demonstrate best practices, impact and innovation.

Social enterprises are profit or non-profit organizations, which are based on financial success and social impact using the markets to solve social problems.

The 2015 Social Enterprize beneficiaries are:

The Cleaning Solution: A non-profit social enterprise based in Vancouver, British Columbia, this contract cleaning company is dedicated to providing support, quality jobs for people living with mental illness. It has grown from three employees and $ 14,000 of income in 2004 to 75 employees and $ 1.2 million in revenues in 2014. The Cleaning Solution clients pay $ 2 an hour above the average of the Cleaning industry and in 2014 had year-over-year retention rates for employees of 80% and 100% for customers; an industry leader on both counts. They are active on the environmental front (eg: the use of environmentally friendly products and participating in Climate Smart), engaged with their industry (eg: member of the BC Cleaning Contractors Association) and active in the support of the social impact of community (eg: members of the social enterprise League to Vancouver).

Women in need of Calgary Society (WINS): A non-profit social enterprise based in Calgary, Alberta, its thrift stores were available in all four quadrants of Calgary for over 20 years. WINS was originally established to provide a worthy place for women in crisis to find affordable clothing, household items, furniture. Today their stores serve Calgary at all socioeconomic levels. In 2014 WINS 'thrift stores generated $ 3.3 million of savings income and financed 80% of their community programs. The stores also partnered with local organizations to provide entry level job opportunities for newcomers to Canada, people in need of work experience, and individuals who are struggling to find jobs elsewhere. In addition to their four thrift stores, they have developed a reference program for free products, recycling services and six family resource centers. To date, WINS served 7,112 adults and 5,050 children, connecting them to over 7562 services.

Each recipient receives 2015 Social Enterprize:

•  A $50,000 cash prize
•  $5,000 in consulting services from the Business Development Bank of Canada(BDC)
•  A video profile
•  An in-depth case study conducted by a Canadian post-secondary institution
•  Airline tickets, lodging and registration for three team members to participate in the Social Finance Forum 2015.

TAGS: GOVERNMENT BUSINESS GRANTS, SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS, GOVERNMENT GRANTS FOR BUSINESS, GRANTS FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, BUSINESS GRANTS, AB BUSINESS FUNDING, BC BUSINESS GRANTS, GOVERNMENT FUNDING, BUSINESS NEWS, GOVERNMENT GRANTS CANADA, CANADIAN GOVERNMENT GRANTS