June 24, 2005

MIDLAND - The North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation (NSCFDC) received an award for excellence in community economic development at a recent provincial conference in Timmons this month.  A trophy for Outstanding Achievement along with a cheque for $250 was presented to incoming Chair Ron Asselin and General Manager Debra Muenz.

The cheque will be donated to the 2006 Career Opportunities for Youth Conference, an annual event which introduces Grade 10 students to the world of skilled trades, now 10 years in the running.

“We were very pleased to receive this award, which recognizes the dedicated efforts of volunteers and staff to enhance the quality of life in our region,” says Debra Muenz, General Manager.

The Youth Conference is just one of the programs for which North Simcoe Community Futures was recognized.  The organization’s consistent approach toward improving the quality of life in North Simcoe was also acknowledged in Picture This!, a community consultation project that identified community assets and areas of concern.  Picture This! Action Teams continue to help organizations address pressing community needs and act as a resource for strategic planning.

Other areas of outstanding service include the partnership with the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce and the development of a regional economic development strategy, which is to be released to the public this fall.

A total of sixty-one Community Futures organizations operate throughout rural Ontario and 300 exist across Canada.  CFDCs support community economic development by assisting Ontario’s rural and northern communities to strengthen and diversify their economies.  CFDCs are community-based, non-profit organizations run by a volunteer board of directors.  For more information about programs or loan opportunities for small businesses, call Debra Muenz at 526-1371 or visit www.nscfdc.on.ca