July 16, 2010
Since Robert Morley started his business in 1994, it has grown dramatically to a point today where the company designs, manufactures and sells state-of-the-art products throughout the world. It has been a challenging road with constant capital requirements to feed research and development in order to move into new or undeveloped markets.
Enter Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) that covers the Lanark County and North Leeds area. This local CFDC believed in Mr. Morley and his business plan and invested in the company not only once, but three times, over this period of growth and development.
Based in Carleton Place, Mr. Morley now has two business operations: Powerbase Energy Systems Inc. and its sister company, Sequence Controls Inc. Recently, he was honoured as “Entrepreneur of the Year” at a Conference of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations in Thunder Bay. He was nominated for the award by Valley Heartland CFDC, one of many nominations that were entered by CFDCs across the province.
“I am extremely proud to accept this award on behalf of our 40 employees. Valley Heartland, our local CFDC, has been instrumental in our success over the past eight years. They have supported us by providing timely loans to facilitate our expansion. They have also provided employee training incentives to enhance the skill sets required to meet the growing sophistication of our products. Their involvement has helped us get to where we are today, with world-class products in three markets,” Mr. Morley said at the awards ceremony.
Powerbase Energy Systems designs, manufactures, installs, commissions and maintains renewable and clean energy systems for small hydro and biogas applications. Its containerized anaerobic digester biogas systems convert organic waste, such as manure into heat and electricity for Canadian agriculture. Powerbase is the only company with a “Made in Canada” biogas system.
“We were really pleased that Rob and Powerbase were recognized with this award. They have wisely identified niche opportunities in the marketplace and worked diligently to design products to address them. We are proud to have played a part in the growth of this business,” says John Doherty, Executive Director of Valley Heartland CFDC.
There are 61 Community Futures Development Corporations across rural and Northern Ontario. They offer free business counselling, loans for start-up and expansion of small business, strategic planning on local projects, and community economic development. Each CFDC is locally managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program through FedNor in Northern Ontario, and FedDev Ontario in Southern and Eastern Ontario. The Ontario Association of CFDCs brings CFDCs together to share information and ideas, and provides advocacy and professional development. To learn more about CFDCs in Ontario or the OACFDC, go to www.oacfdc.com
For more information about Powerbase Energy Systems Inc., contact:
Rob Morley, President and CEO
Carleton Place, ON
613-253-5258
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For more information about Valley Heartland CFDC, contact:
John Doherty, Executive Director
Smiths Falls, ON
613-283-7002 Ext. 104
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For more information about the OACFDC contact:
Mary Alderson, Member Services Coordinator
Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations Inc. (OACFDC)
300 South Edgeware Road, St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 4L1
Telephone: 519-633-2326 Ext. 24 Toll free: 1-888-633-2326 Ext. 24
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