It’s hard to believe, but AIRO is five years old as of today and, just like any other five-year-old, a lot has changed since our infancy!
In December of 2015, Jane brought together a group of women friends to share an idea she’d been considering. She outlined the loose concept of AIRO and all the women in attendance thought it was an idea that could work. One of them got downright excited about it and emailed Jane the very next day with all sorts of feedback, naming possibilities, and reasons why it should go ahead ASAP. If you haven’t already heard this origin story, you probably guessed that woman was Adele!
AIRO was formed a few short months later, Jane and Adele have been blazing a trail of economic development success in Annapolis Royal and Annapolis County ever since!
One of the things you’ll often hear Adele say is:
“Know your numbers, know your power.”
Well, AIRO’s numbers tell a very powerful tale of what can happen when you put philanthropy together with entrepreneurial spirit...and add a heaping helping of community knowledge and creative business advice. Here are our current numbers:
| AIRO’s Numbers as of June 1, 2021 |
| Total Number of Applications Received |
155 |
| Total Dollars Directly Invested to Date |
$692,228 |
| Businesses Funded / Applicants |
67 out of 128 applications (6 pending) |
Community Projects
Funded / Applicants |
19 out of 27 applications / proposals |
| Job Creation (total of approved & pending applications) |
180 full, part-time, and seasonal jobs |
| Cost Per Job Created |
$3,846 |
| Total Number of Loan Defaults |
1 out of 86 projects funded |
But what do those numbers really mean within the community?
They mean that out of 67 business projects funded over a period of five years, we still have 51 businesses that are doing their utmost to contribute to our healthy and vibrant rural economy! It’s worth noting that of the businesses that have closed, only one closed specifically due to the pandemic. The rest closed before Covid-19 due to a change in circumstance for the owner/operators - whether it was moving out of province, selling their property, making a life change that took them in another direction, or simply retiring. No matter the reason, these folks stepped up and took a chance, and we are so grateful they did. Their bravery encouraged others to step up, and the 51 businesses remaining need your support now more than ever! Remarkably, 11 of those 51 businesses opened either just as the pandemic started or during it, and they are still making great headway with their new businesses.
Why not take a few minutes to look through our AIRO list? We think it will inspire you to reach out to one of these many businesses and show them a little extra appreciation for helping our community thrive during this marathon of a pandemic. If there are any businesses here that you don’t recognize or have questions about, just hit reply to this email and we’ll be happy to give you information or make an introduction.
| 1 Scoop 2 Scoop |
| American Musical Theatre Academy (summer theatre camp) |
| Amy Rubin Integrative Counselling |
| Annapolis Basin Charter Tours |
| Atelier 1605 |
| Bear Town Pizzeria |
| Ed's Property Maintenance |
| Farmhouse Kennels of Five Tumbleweeds Farm |
| Fort Anne Café |
| Founders House Dining & Drinks |
| Fundy Massage Therapy |
| Fundy Reach Vacation Rental |
| HOMEBODY Décor, Apparel, and Vintage |
| Inner Spark Self-Discovery Surprise Boxes |
| Jost+ Architects |
| Junior Achievement (student companies at Middleton Region High School) |
| Kashy Kreations & Embroidery |
| Lauren Soloy – author and illustrator |
| Lucky Rabbit & Co. Artist's House |
| Luke's L'il Spuds |
| Lunn's Mill Beer Co. |
| MacDonald Museum |
| Mad Hatter Wine Bar |
| Mare Gold Retreat Centre |
| Maritime Blasting |
| Milk Street Cheese Co. |
| Miracca Spa |
| Nicole Burkhard – business coach |
| NIKIAN Farm Enterprises |
| Northwinds Chalets |
| Past to Present Photos |
| Port Wade Glamping Domes |
| Rachel Taylor – lawyer |
| Rebekah Deveau Photography |
| Round Hill Studio |
| Royal Acres Estate |
| Soluna Energy |
| Skyrocket Your Success Training & Development |
| Tallulah Freelove |
| Tartan Wave |
| The Chocolate Shop Café |
| The Flower Girl Blooms & Baskets |
| The Old Ten Spot |
| The Red Onion Market |
| The Station |
| The Woven Basket Boutique (opening June 3rd!) |
Thistle Hospitality Group:
Fort View Golf Course
Fort View Villages
The Whiskey Teller |
| Tripp's Gallery |
| Weasy's Hair Salon |
We celebrate every one of these businesses for their bravery, creativity, and commitment to our region. To them and all the other members of our AIRO family – and there are many of you, including everyone involved in the numerous community projects we’ve supported – we thank you for continuing to let us be a part of your dreams and goals.
A million dollars doesn’t last forever, so AIRO’s lending function is slowly winding down... but there’s still lots of work to do and at least another year or so ahead. We’ll have some announcements in the future about exactly what years six and seven looks like, so we’ll keep you posted!
But for now, keep an eye open for our upcoming Annapolis Royal staycation marketing campaign in partnership with local businesses and the Annapolis Board of Trade. And join us as we raise a glass to all of you in celebration of our five years!
With love and gratitude,
Jane & Adele
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Know An Entrepreneur Who Is Ready To Dream Big...or step up for one of the opportunities our Local Logic report identifies?
If you have a business idea you want to get off the ground or know someone who does, forward this email to someone who could use our help or go to our website and choose the appropriate application form, submit it, and we’ll reply with the next steps.
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