It doesn't get much funnier than this; we loved helping Puzzleneck piece together their entrepreneurial adventure.
After working in healthcare for 10+ years, I was at a crossroads. I knew that the career opportunities in Crowsnest Pass were limited in my field of expertise, and I wondered if it was time to pursue my dream of owning a jigsaw puzzle manufacturing and retail business. The stars started to align after I met with a business advisor at Community Futures in 2022.
By this time, I had completed my due diligence in researching my business idea, secured equipment suppliers, and was ready to get started. However, I was not ready for the fact that the bank was not willing to lend me money for my business. Nobody warned me of this! I thought that good credit, some equity, and long-term relationships with a local bank would be enough. Nope!
I was lucky enough to hear about loan options from Community Futures from my father. His local business (Randy Rinaldi Welding) used their services in the past, which was a game changer for him. He was able to expand his business with their guidance and support. He warned me that the banks probably don't want to loan me money for my business, as they have more affinity to help established businesses versus taking risks with new ones. In a typical small-town mentality, my father said, "Go see Larry at Community Futures!" Voila, I was able to move forward with my business planning after that optimistic conversation regarding funding. Without the financial backing of Community Futures, Puzzleneck would still be just a far-off dream.
Over the past 2 years, Community Futures has offered many in-person sessions that have helped me increase my business acumen and allowed me to meet other business owners in the area. One thing I did not envision as a solo-preneur was the isolation level I would feel when dealing with day-to-day challenges and troubleshooting. The sharing and learning at the in-person sessions and knowing that the staff at Community Futures CNP are there to help are invaluable! These offerings have increased my knowledge and reduced my feeling of isolation substantially. The Crowsnest Pass business community is fortunate to have this organization at their disposal.
For more information on this client, visit - 
www.puzzleneck.com
