It set out in the spring to raise $6 million, two-thirds of it from the private sector, to fund an operational budget of about $1.2 million annually for five years, and it easily surpassed its goal.
Bill Morrissey, leader of Yes! Winnipeg, said the objective of its nine-person staff is to achieve even a fraction of the success experienced by Nashville, Tennessee, which undertook a similar initiative and opened its doors to more than 350 head offices in 12 years.
He was quick to add that while external attraction was "crucial" for Winnipeg's future growth, Yes! Winnipeg will also focus on helping local businesses expand, too, though there are only vague details on how it will help.
Charlie Spiring, Yes! Winnipeg's chair, said he was especially pleased to see that 115 different businesses, ranging from mom-and-pop shops up to Great-West Lifeco, Investors Group and the Royal Bank, got out their chequebooks in support of the cause.
"The guys who put in $10,000 to $30,000 is where we really hit it out of the park. We're strong and we're going places," he said.
from Western Investor, January 2011
