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In many rural communities, employment in the natural resource-based sectors is declining. In response, individuals and communities are examining the potential of entrepreneurship to support economic development. However, little is known about these entrepreneurs who operate in often constrained environments. By understanding this, place-specific programs can be developed that support and sustain them. This paper contributes to this discussion with research focused on a rural and remote British Columbia region. The survey results suggest that individuals often start businesses for lifestyle reasons and continue to operate them even when financially marginal. Further, despite perceptions that the rural environment is hostile, entrepreneurial opportunities and resources exist and support local community economic development. Communities, governments, and other support organizations can use these results to develop site-and context-specific policies and programs.Dans de nombreuses communaut es rurales, l'emploi dans les secteurs bas es sur les ressources naturelles est en d eclin. En r eponse, les individus et les communaut es examinent le potentiel de l'entrepreneuriat pour soutenir le d eveloppement economique. Cependant, l'on en sait peu sur ces entrepreneurs qui exercent leur activit e dans des milieux aux possibilit es souvent restreintes. Le fait de comprendre cela permet d' elaborer, en fonction des lieux, des programmes sp ecifiques capables de leur apporter soutien et appui. Le pr esent article contribue a cette discussion par une etude ax ee sur une r egion rurale et eloign ee de la Colombie-Britannique. Les r esultats de l'enquête sugg erent que les individus d emarrent souvent une entreprise pour des raisons de mode de vie et continuent a la faire fonctionner même lorsqu'elle n'est que marginalement rentable. De plus, malgr e le fait que le milieu rural soit perçu comme hostile, les possibilit es et les ressources existent en mati ere d'entrepreneuriat pour soutenir le d eveloppement economique des collectivit es locales. Les collectivit es, les gouvernements et les autres organismes de soutien peuvent utiliser ces r esultats pour elaborer des politiques et des programmes sp ecifiques en fonction des lieux et des contextes.

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Businesses in rural/remote regions face challenges associated with their location which are not faced by operations in urban areas. These challenges can include lack of paved roads, and limited access to banking, electricity, and other standard business infrastructure. Businesses must overcome these and other challenges in order to start up, survive, and thrive. This study explores the challenges faced by a group of businesses on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands and the ways in which they are addressed. The research will be of interest to other businesses, governments, regions, national and international, business support organizations, and other parties, which are facing similar issues.