Entrepreneurship hub helps immigrants launch, build businesses in southwestern Manitoba

Newcomers looking to launch businesses in southwestern Manitoba's biggest city now have access to an entrepreneurship incubation space in the heart of downtown.

The team running the Entrepreneur Hub at Westman Immigrant Services wants to help newcomers stay and settle in Brandon, while growing the region's economy, says CEO Enver Naidoo.

Fatima Momoh, one of the hub's clients, moved from Nigeria in 2021 to build a life in Brandon as a skilled worker. A friend recommended connecting with Westman Immigrant Services, and the agency helped make Brandon feel like home, she said.

Now, it's supporting the next step of her journey — growing Alizaf Care, her personalized home-care business. She came to the hub with an idea and a plan, which the team helped develop.

Now, Momoh is her own boss and can use her decade of experience caring for seniors and others, while still making time for her family.

"They understood what I wanted, took me by the hand, gave me all the support," Momoh said. "If you have business ideas …  you want to learn something new and all that. They'll be of great service."

The hub has officially been fully running for a couple of months at 902 Rosser Ave., but part of the office has been operational for about a year.

It secured more than $1 million in federal funding over three years for the project. 

So far, the hub has already connected with more than 100 clients like Momoh. Naidoo says immigrant entrepreneurs need additional support and additional resources because of the unique challenges they face being in a new community.

Hannah Stollery, the community outreach manager for Westman Immigrant Services, says the program generally sees two different types of clients: those who come with capital and those who don't. 

A team of four entrepreneurship co-ordinators connect with people and figure out what help they need, whether developing an idea or growing an already established business, to help both the entrepreneur and the local economy thrive.

"If we aren't able to help them find a way to move those ideas forward in our communities, it's going to be a missed opportunity," she said.

Hub clients have access to 14 local mentors to help them navigate the business world and learn about opportunities like funding.

"They need that support … navigating, starting a business, getting those permits," said Stollery. "Everything to open those doors."