Indie.Biz - A list of start up sources for ‘people like you’

I’m trying to work it from all angles these days to get my lady love Indyish up and running in full fledged form. Whatever that means. The woman at the bank told me sympathetically but potentially crushingly the other day that business programs are not made for artist-types and other ‘people like you’. Ah. Le sigh. And it’s true, most systems are designed by people who think in terms of systems, not people who think in terms of feelings, visions in the night, and heaps of inspirational materials like second hand clothes. But there is no cold hard line between the two, and today making some calls, asking for help, I found a few sympathetic souls who really dig what we do and offered help. Lord love ‘em.

I got a whole whack of links to possible resources from the nice gentleman at Cafe Jeunesse, so I figured I’d post them here for sharing and safe keeping. Buyer beware, ok buddy, some of these are bound to involve lots of hoops to jump through and little pay off, but maybe the program you need is in there too. Fingers crossed for you! And for me, frankly! =)

General funding possibilities and market information for all industries:

* http://www.canadabusiness.ca/gol/cbec/site.nsf/en/index.html

* http://www.canadabusiness.ca/ GuideInfoGuide

* http://www.cybf.ca/

* http://www.ceso-saco.com/english//index.php

* http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/mfbs-gprea.nsf/en/home

* http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/csbfp-pfpec.nsf/en/home

* http://www.bdc.ca/en/my_project/Projects/financing/fs_start_business_general.htm?cookie%5Ftest=1

* Centre local de développement - Le programme Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) http://66.36.242.105/acldq.qc.ca/francais/cld/jeunespromoteurs.php

Funding for the creation and diffusion of arts (facilitating the diffusion of music can apply in this case):

* http://www.culturescope.ca/ev_en.php?ID=12237_-847&ID2=DO_TOPIC

* http://www.canadacouncil.ca/aboutus/role/default.htm

* http://www.artsmontreal.org/index.php?lang=en

* http://www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca/disque.php

Help on developing the business side of your website:

* http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/ee-ef.nsf/en/home

A useful website for NPOs:

* www.charityvillage.ca

Hope these will help you out, good luck and please feel free to contact me should you have other questions,

Regards,

Massimo Mandato
Agent de services au citoyen / Citizen Service Agent
Service Canada
Café Jeunesse / Youth Cafe
330 Emery, Montréal QC. H2X 1J1
Téléphone/Telephone.:(514) 283-6459
Télécopieur/Facsimile : (514) 283-3490
massimo.mandato@servicecanada.gc.ca
www.jeune-youth.cafe.gc.ca