June 12, 2009

BRACEBRIDGE, Ontario, June 12, 2009 — Today, the Member of Parliament for Parry Sound—Muskoka, the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced that the Government of Canada is investing in small business through the Muskoka Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) and the District Municipality of Muskoka.

One of 61 CFDCs in Ontario, the Muskoka Community Futures Development Corporation serves the communities of Bracebridge, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays and Georgian Bay, Wahta and Moose Deer Point.  The funding announced today will allow the Muskoka CFDC to continue to provide small and medium-sized businesses with repayable loans, equity and loan guarantees.

In addition, funding will be provided to the District Municipality of Muskoka to extend the existing Muskoka Airport taxiway to provide access to land at the north and south ends of the runway to facilitate aviation-related business.

“Our government is committed to supporting job creation and business development.  Through the Muskoka CFDC we continue to invest in small and medium-sized businesses, strengthening and diversifying our local economy,” said Minister Clement.  “The investments to extend the taxiway at the Muskoka Airport will support business expansion and create jobs.”

“We are proud of the leadership role we have played during the past 22 years in supporting businesses in Muskoka and appreciate the ongoing support of the Government of Canada,” said Marguerite Urban, Muskoka CFDC Board Chair.

"This FedNor investment will enable us to support the expansion of aviation-related businesses at the Muskoka Airport," explained Gord Adams, Chair of the District Municipality of Muskoka.  "This initiative will lead to more jobs in our community thanks to support from the Government of Canada."

The Government of Canada is contributing $500,000, through Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program, to the Muskoka Community Futures Development Corporation and $87,791, through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, to the District Municipality of Muskoka.  To find out more about FedNor and Ontario’s Community Futures Development Corporations, visit:  http://ic.gc.ca/fednor and/or http://ic.gc.ca/cfdc-ontario

For more information, please contact:

Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
613-995-9001

Robert Naud
Senior Communications Officer, FedNor
613-954-3691 or 1-877-333-6673