AIRO - Annapolis Investments in Rural Opportunity

AIRO - Annapolis Investments in Rural Opportunity Annapolis Investments in Rural Opportunity (AIRO) is dedicated to stimulating entrepreneurial activi It worked.

Our Approach
When we began in 2016, we knew there were people in our community with terrific business ideas who were ready to take action to help our region succeed economically. All they needed was a little bit of financial support and there was none to be found from traditional banking. That is why AIRO was established – to fill a gap in the financial landscape of our community that was holding

back our economic development. For five and a half years we accepted applications from new businesses wishing to get established in Annapolis County, or from existing businesses wishing to expand. We kept the application process simple and the barriers to work with us as low as possible. Our Statistics
Since our founding in 2016, we have received 164 requests for support. Not all of those have been for funding – some simply needed help sorting out their project concept and getting pointed in the right direction. Of those who have requested support, 90 have been approved. This funding has directly supported the creation of more than 183 full-time, part-time, and seasonal jobs and counting - most of our clients have grown beyond their initial staff! And, this doesn't even take into account all of the spin-off employment involved. Our Ongoing Work
The lending arm of AIRO has now closed. We started this venture with $1 million to lead economic change in Annapolis County. We discontinued our lending in December 2021, after operating costs directly invested $722,877 into businesses and community projects in the region. We have now shifted into a consultancy that is focused on helping our existing clients through their individual pandemic recovery plans and become even more deeply rooted in their communities. In addition to that very important work, we will also be ramping up our consulting with a target of helping other regions or potential philanthropreneurs to establish their own version of AIRO – creating opportunity and change throughout other rural communities. If you – or someone you know – is interested in forming your own version of AIRO, just connect with us and we'll set up a time to chat!

08/19/2026
08/07/2026
The PODCAST “How Annapolis Royal is staying alive through history” is now live!! 👇
08/06/2026

The PODCAST “How Annapolis Royal is staying alive through history” is now live!! 👇

Well, that was fun! 😊 Just finished being interviewed for CBC's This Is Nova Scotia podcast - not sure when it will drop, but we'll post again when it does.

UPDATE: The “How Annapolis Royal is staying alive through history” podcast is live - access in the comments 👇

Our part of the interview was in connection to the documentary Rural Renaissance: How Canada's Oldest Community Reinvented Itself and AIRO's role in funding that. It was a chat about the impact of the Annapolis Royal Development Commission and the transformation it created for the community. There is a special focus on the Historic Gardens 🌳🌹🌼 as one of the key projects of the Commission!

You'll find access to the podcast and to the documentary in the comments 👀 ⬇

08/06/2026

Such incredible potential…

📌Stay as a restaurant 🤔
📌Vacation rental upstairs, restaurant downstairs 🤔
📌Experiential tourism facility 🤔
📌Live upstairs/work downstairs 🤔
📌Something no one else has imagined 🤔

It’s an anchor location in the community - get creative with its potential! 🤩

Well, that was fun! 😊 Just finished being interviewed for CBC's This Is Nova Scotia podcast - not sure when it will drop...
08/06/2026

Well, that was fun! 😊 Just finished being interviewed for CBC's This Is Nova Scotia podcast - not sure when it will drop, but we'll post again when it does.

UPDATE: The “How Annapolis Royal is staying alive through history” podcast is live - access in the comments 👇

Our part of the interview was in connection to the documentary Rural Renaissance: How Canada's Oldest Community Reinvented Itself and AIRO's role in funding that. It was a chat about the impact of the Annapolis Royal Development Commission and the transformation it created for the community. There is a special focus on the Historic Gardens 🌳🌹🌼 as one of the key projects of the Commission!

You'll find access to the podcast and to the documentary in the comments 👀 ⬇

07/09/2026

Want to support a local business that has expanded in the Town of Annapolis Royal? Now you can!

As they say in their video, they want to contribute to the "rural renaissance" of our area 😊

Summer Music at The O’ happens every Friday night from 6 to 8 PM, all summer long. Tonight (July 3rd) it’s The Hupman Br...
07/03/2026

Summer Music at The O’ happens every Friday night from 6 to 8 PM, all summer long. Tonight (July 3rd) it’s The Hupman Brothers!

The 2026 Summer Concert Series continues Friday evening at 6PM with The Hupman Brothers Band! Join us at the Oqwa'titek Amphitheatre for a great time!

Address

151 Victoria Street
Annapolis Royal, NS
B0S1A0

Telephone

+19022862086

Website

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