Columbia Basin Trust — Basin Business Advisors ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) operating within the Columbia Basin region - Sole proprietorships and self-employed individuals - Partnerships (general and limited) - Corporations (private and public) - Social enterprises and community-based businesses - Businesses must be legally established and operational - Preference for businesses located in eligible Columbia Basin communities (British Columbia and Alberta regions served by Columbia Basin Trust) - New and established businesses both eligible ### 💰 Funding Details - Cost to Recipient: Free service (no application fees) - Grant Structure: Non-repayable advisory services and resources - Service Type: In-kind support (not direct cash funding) - No Matching Requirement: 100% funded by Columbia Basin Trust - Funding Ceiling: Unlimited access to advisory hours and workshops (subject to program availability and advisor capacity) - Budget Allocation: Covered entirely by trust funding—no cost-sharing required from business ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - One-to-one business advisory consultations (confidential, personalized guidance) - Business Management support (operations, systems, processes) - People Management services (HR guidance, recruitment, team development) - Marketing strategy and implementation support - Growth planning and scaling advisory - Workshop attendance and training sessions - Resource access (templates, tools, industry insights) - Strategic business planning assistance ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Geographic Requirement: Business must operate within Columbia Basin Trust service areas - Confidentiality: All advisory discussions are strictly confidential - Commitment: Businesses expected to actively engage with advisors and implement recommendations - Availability: Services subject to advisor capacity and scheduling - No Guarantee: Advisory services are guidance-based; business outcomes not guaranteed - Documentation: Businesses may need to provide basic business information for intake assessment - Duration: Ongoing access available; no fixed end date for program participation - Eligibility Verification: