February 12, 2007
ELORA, Ontario, February 12, 2007 — Wellington-Halton Hills MP, the Honourable Michael D. Chong, Kitchener-Conestoga MP, Harold Glenn Albrecht, Perth-Wellington MP, Gary Schellenberger, and Cambridge MP, Gary Goodyear, are pleased to announce, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for FedNor, a Government of Canada investment of $880,000 in the Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) of Wellington-Waterloo. The funding will support the organization’s operations over the next three years.
“Canada’s New Government is getting things done for the people of the Wellington-Waterloo region,” said Mr. Chong. “Through our partnership with Community Futures Development Corporations, we are providing business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to start and grow successful businesses.”
“Our Government is committed to supporting efforts to help make rural communities prosperous,” said Mr. Albrecht. “In its short time in existence, this CFDC has become a key player in helping communities and businesses in this region flourish.”
“Our recent economic plan, Advantage Canada, demonstrates that our Government understands that small and medium-sized businesses are the heart of our communities,” added Mr. Schellenberger. “Today’s investment will help the people of Perth-Wellington expand their business and take charge of their economic development future.”
“This investment of $880,000 is very important for the Community Futures Development Corporation of Wellington-Waterloo,” said Mr. Goodyear. “This funding will enable the dedicated volunteers and staff at the CFDC to continue working with small and medium-sized enterprises and community partners to strengthen the regional economy.”
FedNor funding will enable the CFDC to deliver economic development and small business growth activities over the next three years. These will include: access to capital, business services, support for community-based projects, and strategic community planning and socioeconomic development.
The CFDC of Wellington-Waterloo is one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in rural and Northern Ontario funded by FedNor’s Community Futures Program. CFDCs deliver a wide variety of programs and services to support community economic development and small business growth. They employ local staff and are each governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of local residents representative of the community.
“This funding will allow us to continue fostering economic development, employment creation and vibrant communities in the region,” said Joe Martens, President of the CFDC of Wellington-Waterloo. “We look forward to helping author further success stories through our small business and community-focused activities.”
To find out more about Ontario CFDCs, visit http://cfdc-ontario.ic.gc.ca
For more information, please contact:
Erik Waddell
Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
613-957-0200
Robert Naud
Senior Communications Officer, FedNor
613-954-3691 or 1-877-333-6673