Partnership helps budding social entrepreneurs to blossom

The Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre) and Libro Credit Union have extended a partnership to nourish local social entrepreneurs.

The collaboration encompasses three phases: a workshop series, a pitch competition, and the Libro-EPIC Social Enterprise Program — the last of which has fostered 14 enterprises pursuing the four goals of employment, financial resilience, local food accessibility, and housing to create a better future for Windsor-Essex.

The credit union will provide additional funding to extend the program, a move welcomed by EPICentre director Wen Teoh.

“This ongoing partnership allows us the opportunity to help up and coming changemakers make a real difference within the Windsor-Essex community and beyond by implementing and encouraging Libro’s pillars, values, and vision into our social enterprise program,” she says.

Lori Atkinson, regional manager for Libro Credit Union, also expresses pride in the program.

“One way we strengthen our communities is by making strategic investments and building partnerships to make a collective impact,” says Atkinson. “We share a vision with the University of Windsor EPICentre of building knowledge, capacity, and an ecosystem of social innovation and social entrepreneurship in our region.”

Applications for the fourth cohort of the Libro-EPIC Social Enterprise Program will open on Jan. 6. Find details, including benefits and eligibility, on its website.