Webinar 8: Re-localize Investment: Connecting Investors with Local Projects through Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIFs).
Thursday, Nov 27th from 12-1pm ADT.
Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIFs) are pools of capital raised by individuals in a community to invest in for-profit local projects. CEDIFs are often managed locally and are tools to re-localize investor money into communities to promote economic development. Episode 8 in our series welcomes Marc Almon from Backr, a project connecting investors who want to do good with their money, with local business. Andy Horsnell from the Centre for Local Prosperity will moderate and give a CEDIF 101 introduction. Join us for a conversation on the potential for CEDIFs as a community wealth building tool.
We will begin with an interview/panel discussion, followed by a Q&A.
This webinar series is by donation – our recommended donation is $10, but any amount is appreciated! A Zoom link and calendar invitation will be sent after you register.
Marc Almon – Backr Ltd., Co-founder of Screen Nova Scotia, and Co-founder of Culture Link CIC , one of the first Community Interest Companies in Canada is a film & television producer, arts advocate, and social entrepreneur passionate about helping builders, founders and creators succeed. In late 2025, Marc will launch Backr, Atlantic Canada’s first equity crowdfunding platform connecting investors to local projects through the CEDIF program. Marc’s mission is to champion change-makers who seek to engage, inspire, and achieve—whether through story, structure, or systems. Marc is a recognized advocate for the creative industries. As the founding chair of Screen Nova Scotia, his grassroots campaign to preserve the film and TV sector following cuts to the provincial tax credit in 2015 mobilized 6,000 protestors, generated 35,000 petition signatures, and attracted national media attention. These efforts resulted in the creation of a new animation tax credit and incentive fund, preserving hundreds of jobs in Nova Scotia. Marc co-founded the Light House Arts Centre, a 100,000 sq. ft, $14 million creative hub in downtown Halifax. In 2020, Marc launched Impact Culture Capital CIC, an alternative investment fund manager that connects Nova Scotian investors with local, socially driven ventures. His latest feature, THE EXECUTOR, written and directed by Joe Cobden, will debut in 2026.
Webinar context:
The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, leaving many individuals and communities with a sense of uncertainty, and in many cases, worry. How do we respond to this rapidly changing world? How do we strengthen our local agency and resilience, socially, economically, and ecologically? In our current context of trade partner volatility and imposed tariffs that threaten to worsen the financial realities within our communities, we want to shine a light on thriving examples of re-localization in our region!
Re-localization is a concept and movement with an aim to become more self-reliant in our production and consumption (while reducing reliance on distant supply chains) in every category — from energy, to food, to finance/investment, to climate solutions, and beyond.
This series will be held on the last Thursday of each month and will explore examples of re-localization across Atlantic Canada.
Watch previous episodes here: https://centreforlocalprosperity.ca/our-projects/webinar-series-building-community-economic-resilience-through-relocalization/
SAVE THE DATES! Next webinar episodes:
- December – PAUSE
- January 29 – Direct Democracy/Community Engagement
- February 26 – Transition Communities
Graphic Summary
Check out the key-takeaways for the webinar below produced as part of the Community of Practice: Community Wealth Building and Re-localization, a initiative of the Local Prosperity Network. Join us for a conversation about the webinar the following Thursday at the same time.
