February 23, 2005

Local Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDC’s) Announce Recipients Of $1,000,000 Economic Development Fund, PRESCOTT, Ontario, February 23, 2005 – In a ceremony held today at the Prescott Town Hall, the 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation and the Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation announced over $1,000,000 worth of local economic development projects that will receive support from the two agencies as a result of additional funding recently made available under the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF).  The EODF is a $10-million Government of Canada initiative announced last spring to promote socio-economic development in rural Eastern Ontario.  It contributes to the successful development of business and job opportunities as well as sustainable, self-reliant communities leading to a more competitive and diversified regional economy.  Locally, the CFDC’s have received approximately $1,200,000 to invest in the four primary areas of business development, skills development, youth retention / attraction and access to capital.  Ms. Renata Kimmerly, Chair of the Prescott based Grenville CFDC, announced that her organization has thus far made commitments with a number of local public and private sector partners as follows:  $220,000 for business development in support of seven economic development projects and 2 business plans; $81,000 for skills development in support of four local companies and their efforts to train staff; $104,000 for youth retention / attraction in support of nine youth internships; and, $55,000 for access to capital in support of the Community Ventures Capital Fund and façade improvements for one local business.  Decisions on the balance of Grenville CFDC’s EODF allocation will be made by the end of the month.  Examples of specific projects receiving support from Grenville CFDC include an Environmental Assessment for water and sewer services in South Grenville led by the Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, a prioritized action plan for North Grenville municipal infrastructure implementation, a downtown revitalization plan for Prescott, a business plan development intern for the Eastern Ontario Model Forest and a South Grenville cycling study led by Augusta Township.  Ms. Kimmerly stated that she was “excited and delighted to be part of such a progressive campaign to address some of our region’s most pressing socio-economic issues.”  Mr. Lawrence Fielding, Chair of the Brockville based 1000 Islands CDC announced that his organization has made commitments with a number of local public and private sector partners in the following manner:  $150,000 for business development in support of eight economic development projects and seven private business plans; $145,000 for skills development in support of fifteen local companies and their efforts to train staff; $100,000 for youth retention in support of twelve youth internships; and $205,000 for access to capital in support of capital upgrades for twenty local businesses.  Examples of specific projects receiving support from the 1000 Islands CDC include a long term strategic plan for the Village of Rockport, a strategic “master” plan for the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, a series of training workshops to be delivered by the Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce and a downtown revitalization study for the Town of Gananoque.  Mr. Fielding expressed appreciation to the Government of Canada for “entrusting funds with local volunteers who have a vested interest in seeing their communities survive and thrive.”

For more information, please contact:  Tom Russell, Executive Director, 1000 Islands CDC, 613-345-6216

Heather Lawless, Executive Director, Grenville CFDC, 613-925-4275