July 11, 2005
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario, July 11, 2005 – The Honourable Andy Mitchell, Minister of State (FedNor), today announced FedNor support of $800,000 to the local Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) known as the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area. Of this amount, $750,000 supports the organization’s ongoing operations over the next three years, while the remaining $50,000 provides Local Initiatives (LI) funding for community economic development projects within the region.
“The Government of Canada partners with the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area to promote economic diversification and job creation,” said Minister Mitchell. “This funding allows the organization to continue investing in initiatives that enhance tourism, increase participation in the knowledge-based economy and assist local businesses in expanding into export markets.”
The LI contribution supports the CFDC’s community economic development mandate and helps it provide project funds to communities and not-for-profit organizations. Eligible projects may include: feasibility studies; research projects; community information, communication and technology efforts; initiatives that promote innovation, new technology and e-commerce; development of on-line business services; environmental reports; small-scale capital projects; seminars and workshops; marketing/promotional activities; and community tourism events.
The Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area 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, Northern Ontario CFDCs have successfully invested more than $101 million through their loans and business counselling activities to help the small business sector create or maintain 10,621 jobs in the North. Last year, the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area invested $871,348, and assisted in creating or maintaining 111 jobs, contributing to an enhanced business community.
“The federal government’s contribution will permit us to continue addressing local opportunities to help generate increased business, revenue and jobs in the communities we serve,” said Hal McGonigal, Chair of the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area.
FedNor helps rural and Northern communities strengthen their economies and create jobs. By partnering with CFDCs, FedNor is opening doors and building futures for a prosperous Northern Ontario.
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: 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
Mario Paluzzi
Communications Officer, FedNor
(705) 941-2064 or 1 877 333-6673