In front of about fifty people, elected officials, local leaders, entrepreneurs, and economic stakeholders, the SADC of Nicolet-Bécancour held its Annual General Meeting 2019-2020 virtually on June 17. Under the theme Bet on the human being, its new mission, the SADC team presented the results of its actions stemming from a new strategic planning and a renewed agreement with Economic Development Canada. 

Always placing the sustainable development of communities and businesses in the territory at the heart of its achievements, the SADC also focused in the past year on the health of its organization, on personalized support for entrepreneurs, on mobilizing and coordinating its environment, as well as on promoting entrepreneurial projects.  

In 2019-2020, the SADC granted 22 loans to businesses, totaling nearly $800,000 in financing. The investments generated exceed $3M. Among all investments, the recovery, expansion, and acquisition of businesses in the manufacturing sector particularly stood out. 

Sustainable Development

As part of the PROAction program, the SADC supported 10 businesses and organizations as well as 7 municipalities. This sustainable development approach allows local actors to establish a strategic vision and take concrete actions to improve the profitability and positioning of their organization while reducing the environmental impact of their activities. The 2019-2020 cohorts included the following tourism organizations, businesses, and municipalities: Musée des Abénakis, Théâtre Belcourt, Moulin Michel, Culture Centre-du-Québec, Fleuriste Savard, La Tomaterie St-Pierre-les-Becquets, Soudex Métal, Distribution R. Désilets, Recyclage de cèdres, Marcotte et Associés, municipalities of Sainte-Sophie-de-Lévrard, Fortierville, Deschaillons-sur-Saint-Laurent, Saint-Elphège, Manseau, Sainte-Cécile-de-Lévrard, and Saint-Léonard-d’Aston. Additionally, more than 300 people participated in sustainable development conferences. The team also welcomed 26 SADC during the national gathering of the SADC sustainable development group. The territory was highlighted during exchanges, training sessions, and visits to businesses and places of interest.

Support

In addition to offering flexible financing to businesses, the SADC supports and equips entrepreneurs. Thus, 36 businesses received personalized support that meets specific needs. Furthermore, 12 business managers benefited this year from support with the program The ABCs of bookkeeping, allowing them to develop their management skills. The SADC also coordinates the activities of the HR Network, enabling about twenty HR managers from SMEs in the region to share knowledge and participate in training sessions. 

For the 19th year, the SADC oversees the Mentorship Cell of Nicolet-Bécancour, which supports the entrepreneurial human. 21 people benefited from the Mentorship service for entrepreneurs. At the end of March, the Cell established a group mentoring service to allow entrepreneurs to exchange and support each other during times of crisis. This service will become permanent in September 2020. 

Local Development

The organization also participated in and collaborated on several local and regional committees and projects, including the Community Development Committee of the MRC of Nicolet-Yamaska (NoYau), the Social and Collective Development Committee of the MRC of Bécancour (CDSC), and the Revitalization Initiatives of the MRC of Nicolet-Yamaska (7 municipalities). The expertise of the SADC notably allowed for support to the municipality of Parisville during a reflection day for its Strategic Planning and the municipality of Sainte-Gertrude for the revival of its citizen committee as well as for the update of its Revitalization Plan 2016-2019.

Promotion of Entrepreneurship

Once again this year, awareness and promotion activities for entrepreneurship among youth were highlighted. The Great Day of Young Entrepreneurs, the event at the Clef de la Galerie in Fortierville, the OSEntreprendre gala, and the Rendez-vous des Lucioles showcased the entrepreneurial projects of young people in the territory. In total, nearly 300 young people from the territory were impacted by the various activities supported by the SADC.