Created in 2000 on the initiative of the CCIMBO of Quimper, in collaboration with those involved in the creation and takeover of businesses in Cornouaille, the Initiative Cornouaille network supports project promoters by granting honorary loans and of sponsorship. In 2021, the Quimper association received 83 projects, supported 77 and financed 64.
DR
In 2021, the Cornouaille Initiative platform received 83 project leaders, to support 77 and financed 64 via zero-rate honorary loans, “intended to strengthen the creator’s equity“, specifies the association which held its general assembly on Tuesday in the premises of the CCIMBO, in Quimper.
222 jobs created
In total, the association granted €933,500, at an average of €12,500 per honorary loan. The granting of a loan on honor is generally a guarantee of credibility which reassures the banks. Also, the amount of bank loans associated with honorary loans released is estimated at 11.3 million euros, across Cornwall. Of these funded projects, 39 are business start-ups, 8 of which are fishing-related and 25 business takeovers. These projects have also generated the creation of 222 jobs in the territory.
Local services
Among these projects, the creation of busyCoach in Concarneau, an activity management application for sports coaches : “This application allows coaches to manage all of their activity from a single tool: planning, reservations, communication, invoicing… The economic model is based on a monthly or annual subscription with different levels of service for coaches”, explain Camille Calvez and Baptiste Baume, co-founders of busyCoach. They obtained an Initiative Cornouaille honorary loan agreement of 6,000 euros repayable over 48 months.
In Tregunc, Charlie Couvreur founded the Charlie company and the cheese factory, and obtained an Initiative Cornouaille honorary loan of 5,000 euros. Present in several markets in southern Finistère, Charlie et la fromagerie is starting to make cheese and charcuterie boards for two local partners, the bar and brasserie Britt in Trégunc and the Brasserie de Bretagne in Concarneau.
Assistance in business creation and development
In Concarneau precisely, Aline and Laurent Jotteu obtained an Initiative Cornouaille honorary loan of 12,500 euros, repayable over 60 months, for the opening of the Cave du Cabellou. Cellar and delicatessen, the place offers 35 seats and a menu that mixes oysters from the Viviers de Penfoulic, carefully selected cold meats and cheeses as well as a number of items from the grocery store, all accompanied by wines by the glass or in bottles selected from the cellar.
Beverage department always, non-alcoholic: Pascal and Cynthia Person created the OK Kombucha brand, the production of an artisanal organic kombucha using spring water from the Monts d’Arrée. They benefited from a Cornouaille Initiative Network honorary loan of 10,000 euros in 2021. Started in a small 70m² workshop, the activity is developing and requires the construction of a new 300m² premises in the activity area. from Kerlavar to Plonéour-Lanvern, “which will allow us to increase and diversify production from the end of this year“, announces the couple.
The opening of a pop-up store
To highlight these young companies, the Initiative Cornouaille network has entered into a partnership with Mercialys which, from this month of October, will make available a pop-up store in the gallery of the Géant Casino in Quimper. This space will be made available free of charge to entrepreneurs supported by Initiative Cornouaille, who can settle there for a week to present their activities and sell their products or services.