Westman Business | 2025

THE BRANDON SUN • WESTMAN BUSINESS • OCTOBER 25, 2025

Sunrise Credit Union: Financing Support for Manitoba Entrepreneurs

Brandon-based Sunrise Credit Union commercial loans officer Devin Moore says a line of credit can offer customers a financial cushion when cash flow isn’t optimal. (© 2023 Ashleigh Hamm Photography, all rights reserved)

“At Sunrise, we can look after anything and everything, from small businesses to large,” said Devin Moore, a commercial loans officer at Sunrise Credit Union. Sunrise offers small businesses loans, mortgages, and lines of credit - options that are vital to help grow a thriving small business economy throughout Manitoba. “The loans can be for equipment. The mortgages are for real property business space or office space, and lines of credit can assist with cash flow such as working capital, payroll and so on,” he said. Moore explains that each of these fi- nancing options offers different benefits. For example, equipment financing to ob- tain equipment or machinery needed for operation can assist a business to get up and running. Mortgages give a business the opportunity to actually own the prop- erty on which they operate. “I would say the majority of our mem- bers are striving towards that goal,” Moore said. “We also do construction financing for office space or business property al- though with construction financing, it’s a little more in-depth, with policies and procedures we must abide by.” A line of credit can act like a financial cushion, providing temporary assistance when cash flow isn’t optimal.

Moore says that mortgaged proper- ty with equity can help to secure other assets like equipment, a competitive ad- vantage at Sunrise. To be eligible for the Canada Small Business Financing, a business’s reve- nues must not exceed $10 million. “It does encompass a lot of borrowers. You have to be in business in Canada, and you cannot be a holding company or a trust. It has to be an active business where you’re borrowing for that compa- ny for the sake of running the business,” Moore said. Eligible businesses could see up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any one borrower, with a maximum of $500,000 used for purchasing leasehold improve- ments, improving the leased property and purchasing or improving new or used equipment. Moore encourages en- trepreneurs considering the program to take time to do some research as there is good information online. “With the Canada Small Business Fi- nancing Program, you need a thorough business plan with some backing behind it. But really, anyone can apply,” he said. Once you are ready to move for- ward, it’s time to reach out to Sunrise Credit Union.

“A line of credit can alleviate some stress due to cash flow. If you’re dealing with accounts receivable, sometimes re- ceiving payments from clients or vendors isn’t as quick as you’d like and maybe a line of credit is needed to get your busi- ness through your week or your month, or your busy season.” That said, Sunrise Credit Union works to ensure that financing is well-secured to protect all its members. “We want to have tangible asset securi- ty. We want to be fully or partially secured for our files and that leads us right into the Canadian Small Business Financing Program designed to make it easier for small businesses to get loans,” he says. “It’s a very important option for busi- ness lending that is government-backed. It allows you to need a little less for a down payment when we do straight con- ventional mortgage financing at Sunrise.” Moore explained that required down payments could be as high as 30 per cent, which might be out of reach for many businesses. “Canada Small Business Financing is a government guaranteed program that al- lows you to put as little as zero per cent down - although we do like to see at least 10 per cent down,” he said.

BY WENDY KING I f you’re looking to start a small business, or if your business is already established and it needs financing to take it to the next level, Sunrise Credit Union can help you get the leverage you need to reach that goal.