Building Local Business Capacity: How Airdrie Embedded Financial Capability into its Entrepreneur Ecosystem

Date: Tuesday, September 15
Time: 11:30am
Room: Salon B

Speakers:
Jessica Williamson, Ec.D – Economic Development Officer, City of Airdrie
Taunya Woods Richardson – Founder and CEO, Nail the Numbers

Description: Entrepreneur financial capability is often treated as a one-time training issue rather than a core Business Retention & Expansion priority. The City of Airdrie took a different approach. Recognizing that weak financial planning, low visibility into profitability and financing readiness gaps were limiting business resilience and growth, Airdrie embedded entrepreneur financial capability into its local support ecosystem. 

This session explores how Airdrie moved beyond traditional financial literacy programming to build community-wide capacity. By adopting a shared financial framework, The Cashflow CanvasTM, and activating local professionals including CPAs, business coaches, mentors and economic development partners, Airdrie created a more coordinated and sustainable approach to helping entrepreneurs build, validate and act on stronger financial plans. 

Participants will gain a high-level understanding of how the model was implemented, what outcomes it helped make possible and why it offers a practical example of Business Retention & Expansion in action. The session will also highlight how other communities can adapt a similar approach using the assets, professionals and partners already present in their local ecosystem.