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LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS
Once an apprentice baker, Joe Caidler can now beam at his own name on the sign of the business he bakes for - Mr. Joe's.

Entrepreneur Joe Caidler serves up hot dogs at his bakery in the Norman Wells Air Terminal building. Caidler was able to start his first business with the help of the NWT Department Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Investment's Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development program. - photo courtesy of Nichole Richards -

Serving up hot dogs from the roller with his fresh baked buns, cookies, muffins, and a variety of other fresh baked goods at his Norman Wells Air Terminal business, Caidler's freedom to be his own boss came with a lot of hard work, and a little help from a GNWT program for entrepreneurs.

"When I started, I knew I wasn't going to give up," Caidler said, about the process of developing his business plan with Norman Wells economic development officer Nichole Richards.

Richards helped Caidler apply for start-up funding through the Ministry of Industry Tourism and Investment's Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development program, which offers up to $15,000 capital assistance for small business.

"For Joe, it was his dream to have a business and they made it possible for him," Richards said. "If anybody has a dream or idea they have this would be the first place to start."

Richards said she is happy to see residents take advantage of the program because small businesses play an important role in the community, she said.

"It's important to have small businesses in our area because they boost our economy a little bit, employ people, and keep the money flowing in our region," she said. "And every small business will offer different services we don't have here." Small businesses promote diversification of the economy, Richards added.

Since opening his business last October, Richards said she is proud to see Caidler has quickly become a savvy business owner, seeing success mostly through word of mouth.

"If you treat people well, they will return," he said.

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