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Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation: Providing High Quality Financing and Support Services

By Felicia Greekas

For over 15 years the Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation (TACC) has been offering quality services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs throughout the traditional Coast Salish Nation territories.

Mandated by the 54 Coast Salish Nations, TACC was formed through the recognition that support was needed for Aboriginal entrepreneurs. TACC was established in 1992 by the Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Economic Development Association (TEDA) commissioners, who were chosen from these Nations to form and govern TACC.

Since opening, TACC has supported the success of over 1,000 Aboriginal Small Businesses within the traditional territories of the Coast Salish Nations.

Through this, many entrepreneurs know they can turn to TACC for their business financing needs.

But TACC takes it a step further, offering an array of business support services through workshops, pre and after care as well as promotional efforts; TACC is a well rounded lender supporting clients developing their idea into a venture.

“TACC did so well. Offering information that’s been really good for business,” says Shirley Point, owner of Point Salon and Spa in Chilliwack. Shirley contacted TACC when she was ready to put her passion to business, and has now been successfully in business for over three years.

With a vision to become a leader in Aboriginal financial lending, Tale’awtxw took a big stride forward in achieving certification to the internationally recognized ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System (QMS) standard in May 2005, becoming the first and only Aboriginal Capital Corporation in Canada with this certification.

Having the ISO certification represents the commitment TACC has to quality client services. TACC is able to measure the consistency in services provided to clients to ensure reliability.

Other than just financing small business, TACC’s vision is to support clients through the steps of opening their businesses. Whether they have an idea and need further information and business planning or would like to expand an already existing business, TACC can be there to help.

Most clients turn to TACC knowing that financing isn’t readily available within other financial institutions; this is epecially true with on-reserve businesses.

“This process made me realize how robotic typical financial institutions can be,” says Glenn Regnier, proprietor of All Fresh Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning. “The feeling of wanting to help you isn’t there. Going to TACC felt like family, they go out of their way to help you succeed, create opportunities, and make them available to you. Dealing with TACC was a terrific experience for me, and would be for other aboriginal entrepreneurs.”

TACC strives to work with clients in a respectful way, guiding them to where they need to be.

Wanting to create more for clients to connect, TACC launched an online Aboriginal Business Directory in 2006. The directory includes clients, First Nations and Aboriginal Organizations within the traditional Coast Salish Nation territories that will increase awareness and provide further networking and cross marketing opportunities.

Since its inception, the directory has built a listing of close to 150 complete profiles and descriptions with valuable information for those looking to connect with specific businesses or organizations.

With the desire to create more awareness around emerging and successful, established businesses, TACC provides the opportunity to get some insight into the world and work of Aboriginal entrepreneurs through a regular Client Spotlight.

Beginning in 2005, TACC launched the Vision Ezine – an online magazine geared to offer relevant information for entrepreneurs with featured businesses, marketing information and events in the community.

The main focus of the Ezine is the Client Spotlight, interviewing clients to showcase their steps to success. Having a successful story of small business owners inspires others to want to take that step as well. As one of the main feedbacks from workshops delivered by TACC Business Services Officers; people want to know how they can do it too. They want to take their idea and transform it into a business they can call their own.

TACC continues to strive to create more client services. With the development of new workshops in process for business planning, financial management and marketing information, TACC can educate those who are ready to be an entrepreneur.

It starts with a vision…. It did for TACC who’s become a recognized financial lending corporation who supports the success of its clients. Now, with much experience in the industry, TACC will continue to offer quality client care and financing, taking the steps to include more services and resources for Aboriginal entrepreneurs to turn their vision into a reality.