(VANCOUVER) 8 May 2019: Students at the University of Ottawa are helping corner store owners bring fresh food to urban food deserts through their project, Sprout.

The team was rewarded on Tuesday, May 7 at the 2019 Enactus Canada National Exposition, where they took home the award for BDC Project Accelerator Best Project Award.

Sprout has already helped 6 stores better serve their customers, with plans to expand to 4 more in the coming months.

At BDC, we believe that companies can be a force of good and create positive impact in our society. Through Sprout, Enactus uOttawa has demonstrated the power of purpose-driven businesses by bringing real value to communities in lower income areas” says Annie Marsolais, Chief Marketing Officer at BDC. “Our Enactus partnership allows us to contribute to the development of the next generation of business leaders and encourage entrepreneurial growth across Canada.”

The BDC Project Accelerator, launched in 2011, is designed to empower Enactus teams with the skills and resources to make a meaningful difference in their communities through entrepreneurship.

The 2019 Enactus Canada National Exposition unites 1,500 delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs to enable progress by supporting entrepreneurial action through competition, recognition and education.

 

ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, a national charity and the country’s largest post-secondary experiential learning platform, is shaping entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 3,400 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, positively impacting over 28,000 lives. As a global network of 37 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.

ABOUT BDC: BDC is the only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs. It promotes Canadian entrepreneurship with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. With its 123 business centres from coast to coast, BDC provides businesses in all industries with financing and advisory services. Its investment arm, BDC Capital, offers equity, venture capital and flexible growth and transition capital solutions. BDC is also the first financial institution in Canada to receive B Corp certification. To find out more, visit bdc.ca.

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