WINDSOR, ON – Libro Credit Union has been announced as a winner of Concentra’s Empower Your Community Awards, securing a $10,000 grant to an entrepreneur program of WEtech Alliance.

“Libro knows that small businesses are the backbone of our communities and that by partnering with WEtech and supporting tech companies we are helping develop a sustainable, diversified economy in our area,” said Liz Arkinstall, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Libro Credit Union, who is based in Essex. “We can turn to local entrepreneurs for innovative solutions to global problems – something that this grant couldn’t have timed better as we look for ways to combat the COVID crisis.”

“We believe the ScaleUP Tech Accelerator Program of WEtech Alliance was a perfect match for the Concentra award. As a purpose-based business, Libro looks for opportunities to leverage our impact with community partners.” 

Since 2018, Libro Credit Union has invested a total of $50,00 in the ScaleUP Tech Accelerator Program. The overall impact this partnership is making on employment and financial resilience in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent regions, including: 

• 14 ScaleUP companies helped
• 65 net new jobs created in southwestern Ontario
• 86 new Innovative products to Market
• Over $11 million in revenue generated by ScaleUP Companies
• Helped local companies achieve global expansion, developing a presence across 27 countries in six continents

The ScaleUP Tech Accelerator Program is a program that provides intensive growth coaching, expert insight, strategic planning and financial assistance to tech entrepreneurs in the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent area seeking to scale their business.

Up to five entrepreneurs will be selected to receive four months of intensive business mentoring, in-kind services valued at $15,000, access to a global network of support and the opportunity to pitch for a $10,000 top prize. Additional funds will assist in commercializing innovative products created by local entrepreneurs.

Yvonne Pilon, President & CEO, WEtech Alliance tell us, “We expect that some of the businesses in our next ScaleUP cohort may need to pivot now because of COVID-19, and we are prepared to support them.”

Libro Credit Union’s community investment programs support financial resilience, housing, local food accessibility and employment as key areas of focus to deliver our promise to grow prosperity in southwestern Ontario.

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About Concentra’s Award
Applicants demonstrate strong credit union support for the project. For example, the project is led or championed, supported financially and/or in-kind, and demonstrates leadership in the community by your credit union. Projects should also focus on environment, community, First Nations and innovation and provide sponsorship and brand recognition for Concentra.

About the ScaleUP program

The ScaleUP Tech Accelerator (ScaleUP) program is made possible by funding support from Libro Credit Union and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. ScaleUP provides intensive growth coaching, expert insight, strategic planning and financial assistance to tech entrepreneurs in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent looking to scale their business. ScaleUP will select a maximum of five (5) entrepreneurs who will receive four-months of intensive business mentoring, in-kind services valued at $15,000, access to a global network of support and the opportunity to pitch for a $10,000 top prize in front of the Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network, Funding Partners and Members of the Regional Alliance Windsor-Essex.

Applications for cohort 4 will be launching in August.

For more details about the program, visit www.wetech-alliance.com/scaleup.