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RANKIN INLET
A group of budding entrepreneurs completed a small business course in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Instructor Kevin Bussey goes over the material with students enrolled in a small business course in Rankin Inlet this past week - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The three-day course was sponsored by the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet.

Hamlet economic development officer Evan Morrison said the course was aimed primarily at people who plan to start a small business.

He said it was also beneficial to anyone already with a small business, but looking to refresh their skills or learn a few new approaches to help kick start their business in the community.

"Those were the two main groups of people we were trying to attract to this course, which was facilitated by Kevin Bussey," said Morrison.

"We had 14 enrol for the program, which was held Sept. 5-8 at the fire hall.

"We had a better turnout this time than we did at a previous course, so that was great to see.

"It seems more people are getting interested in starting their own business in the community and that's really encouraging to see."

The hamlet has a golden opportunity to try and help would-be entrepreneurs flourish and create new businesses in the community with the spinoffs expected from the construction phase of the Meliadine gold mine this coming year.

Morrison said the hamlet hopes to help build up secondary services in the community through courses of this nature.

He said the opportunities will present themselves with the coming of the Meliadine mine, and it's up to the community to be ready to take advantage of them.

"Kevin (Bussey) did a fine job with the course.

"The participants were instructed in a number of areas, including financing, branding, marketing and promoting their business, how to register a business and how they work in the North.

"It's a beginner's course, so they were provided with a workbook, writing materials and binders to put their notes in.

"Kevin also had some course material in the back of the binders, which was nice to see."

Morrison said the course also featured guest speakers from businesses and organizations within the community.

He said participants learned many of the basic skills their business will require during the program.

"We had bank representatives, as well as people from various government departments.

"They talked about financing businesses, and I spoke to them about how to obtain funding.

"That's a big thing, to be able to obtain the start-up money to get your new business off the ground."

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