Incorporated in 2001, EMBERS (Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society) was born out of a grassroots organizing process called Community Directions. The goal was to bring  together residents and organizations of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver to find common solution to community problems.

Today, EMBERS runs a Micro-enterprise Program offering business training, financial literacy classes, one-on-one business consultation and ongoing business support services. We are also proud to offer a matched-savings program, which is the first of its kind in Vancouver targeted to help under-resourced entrepreneurs build seed equity for their business.

Since 2003, more than 200 people have accessed EMBERS business services and training programs. EMBERS has helped more than 65 businesses start up or expand.