"I love AIRO - Annapolis Investments in Rural Opportunity"

2022-10-08 06:42:40

Stay Informed 2014: the Ivany Report told us "Now or Never" - Nova Scotia is in crisis2015: the playbook “We Choose Now” told us how to "step up" for our province2016: AIRO takes on the challenge for Annapolis Royal and Annapolis County2017: AIRO releases Local Logic: How to get there from here – survey results and recommendations on the economic future of Annapolis Royal, NS, and surrounding communitiesWhat is AIRO all about?Business financing has become remote, data driven and abstract. Local communities are the victims.AIRO has created a financing opportunity through loans and business advisory services.AIRO is helping Annapolis Royal— and all of Annapolis County —to become THE place to live, work, play, and thrive in Nova Scotia! Our Approach When we began in 2016, we knew there were people in our community with terrific business ideas who were ready to take action to help our region succeed economically. All they needed was a little bit of financial support and there was none to be found from traditional banking. That is why AIRO was established – to fill a gap in the financial landscape of our community that was holding back our economic development. For five and a half years we accepted applications from new businesses wishing to get established in Annapolis County, or from existing businesses wishing to expand. We kept the application process simple and the barriers to work with us as low as possible. It worked. Our Statistics Since our founding in 2016, we have received 164 requests for support. Not all of those have been for funding – some simply needed help sorting out their project concept and getting pointed in the right direction. Of those who have requested support, 90 have been approved. This funding has directly supported the creation of more than 183 full-time, part-time, and seasonal jobs and counting - most of our clients have grown beyond their initial staff! And, this doesn't even take into account all of the spin-off employment involved. Our Ongoing Work The lending arm of AIRO has now closed. We started this venture with $1 million to lead economic change in Annapolis County. We discontinued our lending in December, 2021, after operating costs directly invested $722,877 into businesses and community projects in the region. We have now shifted into a consultancy that is focused on helping our existing clients through their individual pandemic recovery plans and become even more deeply rooted in their communities. In addition to that very important work, we will also be ramping up our consulting with a target of helping other regions or potential philanthropreneurs to establish their own version of AIRO – creating opportunity and change throughout other rural communities. If you – or someone you know – is interested in forming your own version of AIRO, just and we'll set up a time to chat! Our Mission We believe in the potential of our region and have been dedicated to stimulating entrepreneurial activity in Annapolis Royal and Annapolis County through microlending, business advisory services and consulting. We also believe that the AIRO model can be replicated successfully anywhere in rural Canada. Our Vision We want what you want — to make Annapolis Royal and Annapolis County the place to work, live, play and thrive in Nova Scotia. We also want to help others to establish their own version of AIRO in their own communities. Our Report Get more information about our report, Local Logic: How to get there from here. Downloads AIRO - an information summary and biographies (media kit). If you have any difficulties with the downloads . Scholarhips AIRO's scholarship program is now over. From 2018 to 2021 we awarded six scholarships of $2,000 each to six recipients: 2021 Scholarship Recipient:Emma Longmire2020 Scholarship Recipients:Jordan Barteaux and Elsa Hafting2019 Scholarship Recipient:Lauren Longmire2018 Scholarship Recipients:Lauren Kaiser and Noah Robinson Annapolis Rural Renaissance Project - 40 Years Forward Forty years ago, Annapolis Royal reinvented itself with the help of its community members. In 2021 AIRO (Annapolis Investments in Rural Opportunity) made a documentary sharing that process. We encourage you to watch our documentary, RURAL RENAISSANCE: How Canada’s Oldest Town Reinvented Itself, before participating in this survey.The second phase of the Annapolis Rural Renaissance Project asked what the community would like to see happen in Annapolis Royal thorugh an online survey and two community consultation meetings. The response was incredible with over 400 ideas submitted!AIRO's first report, Local Logic: How to get there from here, was a community guide for its micro-lending model. A new report, Local Logic: 40 Years Forward, will be a guide for changemakers to help us continue to thrive and carry our rural renaissance well into the future. AIRO video projects: RURAL RENAISSANCE: How the Citizens of Annapolis Royal Reinvented Canada’s Oldest Town - September 18, 2021 There is no nice way to say this, but in 1975 the King's Theatre in Annapolis Royal was a dump. BUT it didn’t stand out because it matched all the other shabby and dilapidated buildings in the downtown business district of the Town of Annapolis Royal. The restoration of the Theatre in the early 1980s acted as a catalyst in the economic revitalization of Annapolis Royal, and now that story is being told!This documentary captures the story of the Annapolis Royal Development Commission and its impactful projects that now, 40 years later, are still the backbone of the community.Spearheaded by Jane Nicholson and AIRO, with the support of filmmaker Andrew Tolson and researcher Wilfred Allan, what started out as a short video for the community has become an hour-long documentary! AIRO Innovates the Rural Economy - October 22, 2019 How can rural economic development be done differently in rural Canada? We're sharing exactly how the AIRO model innovates the rural economy! Several of our clients share their stories about stepping up to the challenge of being an entrepreneur in rural Nova Scotia's Annapolis County. This will challenge you to view ROI differently - through the lens of philanthropreneurship - and challenge you to think about how you could apply this model to your own community. But don't worry, we're a sharing organization and we don't mind helping you to implement your own version of AIRO! AIRO Publicly* Supported Projects Include:1 Scoop 2 Scoop | Action Jax and The Village at Crown Cove| | Annapolis Climate & Ecological Research Centre (ACERC) Coalition| Age Advantage Association |American Muscial Theatre Academy |Amy Rubin Integrative Counselling |Annapolis Basin Charter Tours |Annapolis Board of Trade | Annapolis Marsh Tours (CARP) | Annapolis Royal 5K | Annapolis Royal Community Arts Council | Annapolis Royal Farmers & Traders Market |Annapolis Royal Kayak Rentals | Annapolis Royal on the Move! | Annapolis Royal Wharf Association | Ashdale Acres | Atelier 1605 | AWEC - Annual King's Theatre Day | Awesome Annapolis | Bear Town Pizzeria | Bridgetown Jubilee Park Floating Dock | Ed's Property Maintenance | End of the Line Pub |Eventide Lingerie |ExperienceAnnapolis.ca| Farmhouse Kennels | Fort Anne Cafe | Fort View Golf Course | Fort View Village | Founders House Dining & Drinks | Good Cheer Adventures | H.O.W. (Heal Our World) - A Junior Achievement Company |Inner Spark Self-Discovery Surprise Boxes | Kashy Kreations & Embroidery | Lauren Soloy - Writer & Illustrator | Lucky Rabbit & Co. | Luke's L'il Spuds | Lunn's Mill Brewery | Mad Hatter Wine Bar |MareGold Retreat Centre |Maritime Blasting |Milk Street Cheese Co. | Mills Mountin Gluten Free Foods | Miracca Spa | MSA Property Services | MVR Solutions - Skyrocket Your Success | NIKIAN Farm Enterprises | Northwinds Chalets By The Bay | Past To Present Photos | PolicyWonks.ca | Power Hour Fitness |Prettymaker Studio |Rebekah Deveau Photography |Round Hill Studio | Royal Acres Estate | Royan Twinning Committee - Town of Annapolis Royal |Rural Renaissance Project |Soluna Energy Inc. | StayAnotherDay.ca | Stella Maris Health Services | Tall Sips on Stilts Teahouse & Tavern |Tallulah Freelove: Linen Pur & Simple | Tartan Wave | TealSeal Gaming - A Junior Achievement Company | Temple on Queen | The Flower Girl Blooms & Baskets | The Old Ten Spot |The Red Onion Market | The Station | The Woven Basket Boutique | Thistle Hospitality Group | Town of Annapolis Royal - Facade Improvement Program | Tripp's Gallery | Upper Clements Parks Society | Valley Unison Counselling |Weasy's Hair Salon | WhereInTheValley.com | *Not all projects are ready for us to publicly acknowledge them – more will be added as they launch! AIRO in the Media: September 12, 2022: How an unusual small-loans program helped re-energize a rural Nova Scotia town: The Philanthropist Journal July 2, 2022: Platinum Jubilee Medal Design Unveiled, First 70 Recipients Announced - inclduing Jane Nichoslon September 15, 2021: How residents saved Annapolis Royal from becoming a ghost town: Annapolis Valley Register September 15, 2021: How Canada's oldest town held a 'rural renaissance' to save itself: CBC News September 15, 2021: How residents saved Annapolis Royal from becoming a ghost town: Annapolis Valley RegisterFebruary 26, 2021: Inspiration and celebration: Women of Excellence Awards to recognize Annapolis Valley accomplishments: Valley Journal Advertiser February 9, 2021: Annapolis County caremonger Adele MacDonald making a difference in trying times: The Chronicle Herald January 21, 2021: Group pitches idled Annapolis Royal tidal station as world-class climate change research centre: The Chronicle Herald January 16, 2020: New Micro-Loan Pilot Program to Benefit Cape Breton – Unama’ki Female Entrepreneurs: Press Release - CapeBretonPartnership.com/ January 2020: How to revitalize a rural economy: MunicipalWorld.com December 19, 2019: Having faith: Nicholson investing in people and community to grow rural economy: SaltWire.com December 10, 2019: ‘Philanthropreneur’ fuelling big change in Annapolis Royal: The Chronicle Herald February 28 2019: DIY Economic Development: One Woman's ROI on Micro-loans: Rural Spark Podcast with guest Jane Nicholson January 9, 2019: Valley leaders share 2019 goals: The Chronicle Herald July 12, 2018: Amplify East: profile on Adele MacDonald April 26, 2018: Amplify East: profile on Jane Nicholson January 2018 to December 2018: Adele MacDonald Book Reviews: Thought Readers Book Business Book Club September 8, 2017: Lucky Rabbit's Reinvention: NSCAD Notes News July 4, 2017: The Airo Way: Finding investment doesn’t have to be hard: The Chronicle Herald April 5, 2017: Engage Nova Scotia Voices 5 Podcast: Part three of a three-part series interview with Adele MacDonald April 4, 2017: Documentary omission leaves rare opportunity on national stage for Annapolis Royal: The Chronicle Herald March 28, 2017: Press Release for Local Logic: How to get there from here March 28, 2017: Engage Nova Scotia Voices 4 Podcast: Part two of a three-part series interview with Adele MacDonald March 22, 2017: Engage Nova Scotia Voices 3 Podcast: Part one of a three-part series interview with Adele MacDonald December 27, 2016: Gunn's Annapolis Royal Celebration Tartan comes ashore for 2017: The Annapolis County Spectator September 16, 2016: Jane Nicholson Interview by Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia Ongoing AIRO Newsletter: 12-Month Archive Sign up for our newsletter! We don't like spam any better than you do, so if you subscribe, you'll only get news about our clients and information about AIRO, its process, how you can "step up" with us, along with ideas on how we can all work together to make our community thrive! AIRO | Annapolis Investments in Rural Opportunity151 Victoria Street | PO Box 456 | Annapolis Royal, NS B0S 1A0 | 902.286.2086 | | Privacy Policy