Growing Aboriginal Self Reliance through Business Opportunities

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Growing Aboriginal Self Reliance through Business
Opportunities

NAABA and the RED Link Partnership
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 The Westin Calgary
Hotel Presented by Jeff Pardee, General Manager
of the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business
Association
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Introduction

• Jeff Pardee, General Manager, Northeastern
  Alberta Aboriginal Business Association
• (Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, Director)
• Presentation Objective Resource Expo 06
• Business associations and other networking
  groups can be1) A valuable source of
  information, contacts and support. 2) Provide a
  venue to network, lobby, and maintain
  relationships with clients and suppliers. 3) Can
  help you achieve your organisational goals
  through the power of networking.

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Presentation Agenda

• Introduction of Our Region
• RIWG Facts and Figures
• NAABA An Introduction/Video
• RED Link Partnership
• RED Link Job Link
• Questions

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Introduction Wood Buffalo Region
Mikisew Cree First Nation
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Fort McKay First Nation
Fort McMurray No. 468 First Nation
Metis
Chipewyan Prairie First Nation
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Introduction - Regional Facts
Source Athabasca RIWG Oilsands Fact Sheet June
2004
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Job Creation
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Population Growth in RMWB
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What is NAABA?
Our Mission Statement To work together as a
group of Aboriginal owned businesses to enhance
and create an environment, which promotes
business, jobs and training opportunities, for
the betterment of All People in the Region.

• NAABA is
• A non-profit organization, funded solely by
  Membership
• Promotes businesses, jobs, and training for the
  betterment of ALL people in the region.
• Works with industry and business to maximize
  business opportunities for its members.
• Certifies that all Full members are qualified by
  at least 51 Aboriginal ownership.

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Who What is involved in NAABA?

• Formed in 1993 by visionary Aboriginal Business
  Leaders serving the oilsands industry
• Aboriginal Businesses in the Regional
  Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• Diverse base of business interests, from
  Labourers Janitorial to high technology markets
• Supporting Associate Members are Construction
  Owners, General Contractors, and Suppliers to
  Aboriginal Business
• Network with Educational Institutions and
  Business Development Organizations
• Diverse volunteer Board of Directors
• Aboriginal Business Sector over 400
  Million/Annum in 2005

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Full Members

• Full Members are Aboriginal Businesses within the
  Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• Includes Band owned, First Nations, Metis and
  Inuit 51 and greater ownership
• NAABA Certifies Aboriginal Businesses for
  reporting purposes

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Strengths of Aboriginal Business

• Regional Knowledge
• Access to Local Labour
• World Class Safety Standards
• Familiar with Plant Sites
• Networking with Local Agencies
• More capacity than assumed by Large Firms

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Supporting Associates

• Associates are Supporting Partners in NAABAA
  Tool Box for Aboriginal Business
• Aboriginal Businesses outside RMWB
• Non Profit Partners (Business Development
  Partners)
• Construction Owners
• Suppliers Non Aboriginal Businesses(General
  Contractors included)

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Non Profit Partners
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RED Link
www.redlink.ca
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The Partnership and Role
RED Link's role (Regional Economic Development
Link) is to facilitate opportunities to enhance
the Regions business sectors through
information, communications, promotions,
research, networking, and sales. 


A Partnership between the three Business
Associations in the Region


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RED Link Participation

• A RED Link Participant is a member in good
  standing of one of the three partner
  organizations.
• To qualify for RED Link Services a participating
  company must
• Pay taxes to the Regional Municipality of Wood
  Buffalo, and,
• Maintain a staffed business office located within
  the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and
• Hold a valid Local Business License in RMWB

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RED Link Secure Area
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Local/Aboriginal Work Opportunity

• Free Short-listing Service for Industry
• Expression of Interest sent to ALL Participants
  (Members)
• Quick Turnaround Fully Automated
• Tracking and Reporting
• Assists New Players to develop their Vendor
  Database

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Summary of Services
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Value Added to our Participants
A new service that links our Participants/Members
to local employees through a network with the
employment centres in the region.
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RED Link Participants
Future Enhancement
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Successes to Date

• Committed Industry Partners
• Growing List of RED Link Participants
• LWO Opportunities 300 Opportunities (Since
  April 14 2004 when System Automated)
• Influencing Local Opportunities
• Cost Savings to Construction Owners
• Utilization and Access to Local Employees
• Recent addition of Job Link
• Licensing of RED Link to other Groups across the
  country (MacKenzie Gas Pipeline)

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Conclusions

• Develop or work with a strong networking,
  membership driven organization
• Communication System for Membership
• Provide Local Opportunities for Business (Dont
  assume they cant handle the work)
• Value Added Membership Benefits (Chamber of
  Commerce)
• Partnerships are critical with
• Employment agencies
• Educational Institutions
• Business Associations
• Industry
• Government

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Thank You and Questions

• Thank you Questions?

www.redlink.ca Email naaba_at_telus.net