May 10, 2005

SARNIA, Ontario, May 10, 2005 – The Honourable Roger Gallaway, Member of Parliament for Sarnia–Lambton, and Rose-Marie Ur, Member of Parliament for Lambton–Kent–Middlesex, today announced Industry Canada/FedNor support of $250,000 to the local Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) known as the Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation for its ongoing operations.

“Our local Community Futures office through its volunteer directors and staff has made an important contribution to economic development, particularly in the small business sector, in Sarnia-Lambton,” said Mr. Gallaway.  “This funding will ensure the continuance of this work.”

“It’s important small and medium-sized businesses have the tools they need to flourish and the Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation has been particularly effective in helping them succeed,” said Mrs. Ur.

The Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation is one of 61 CFDCs 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 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 Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation invested over $1.9M ($1,994,061) and assisted in creating or maintaining 217 jobs, contributing to an enhanced business community.

“This announcement allows us to continue efforts to strengthen the economy such as pursuing business opportunities in the energy sector,” said Jace Kohlmeier, Chair of the Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation.  “Diversification and youth retention are among other key priorities.”

Through this initiative 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 March 2004 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 Joe Comuzzi
(613) 947-5850

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