September 28, 2005

OHSWEKEN, Ontario September 28, 2005 – Lloyd St-Amand, Member of Parliament for Brant, on behalf of the Honourable Andy Mitchell, Minister of State (FedNor), today announced a Government of Canada investment of $275,000 in the local Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) known as the Two Rivers Community Development Centre.  The funding will be used to support the ongoing operations of the CFDC over the next year, including business services and access to capital for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as community economic development efforts.

“This local level partner has had a major impact on the community by supporting the rapid growth of small and medium-sized enterprises over the past 15 years,” said Mr. St-Amand.  “The Community Futures program is a key priority for the Government of Canada in its efforts to foster economic growth, diversification and job creation.”

The Two Rivers Community Development Centre is one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in rural and Northern Ontario funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program through FedNor.  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.

In the last five years, Ontario CFDCs, through their investment and business counselling activities, invested more than $229 million to help the small business sector create or maintain 26,418 jobs.  Last year, the Two Rivers Community Development Centre invested $822,433 and assisted in creating or maintaining 48 jobs, contributing to an enhanced business community.

“Providing access to capital, counselling, workshops, and other services to members of our business community will ensure this sector continues to flourish,” said Warren Sault, Chair of the Two Rivers Community Development Centre.  “We continue to support the Six Nations and New Credit First Nations to help them reach their full potential.”

Through its investments in CFDCs, the Government of Canada is acting on its commitment to support economic growth and diversification in rural communities.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

To find out more about Ontario CFDCs, visit us at:  http://cfdc-ontario.ic.gc.ca

For more information, please contact:

Graeme Wilkes
Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Andy Mitchell, Minister of State (FedNor)
(613) 947-5850

Yves Chateauneuf
Communications Officer, Industry Canada/FedNor
(519) 645-5684 or 1 877 333-6673