February 10, 2005

MILVERTON, Ontario, February 10, 2005 — Paul Steckle, Member of Parliament for Huron – Bruce, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State (FedNor), today announced an Industry Canada investment of $750,000 over three years toward the continued operation of the Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) of Perth County.

“This three-year contribution to the CFDC of Perth County is an endorsement of the excellent job it has done to foster growth, diversity, economic development and employment creation since its inception in 2001,” said Mr. Steckle.  “The Government of Canada believes in partnering with CFDCs because people at the community level are best positioned to understand the local needs.”

The CFDC of Perth County 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 services and programs 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 $196 million to help the small business sector create or maintain 22,288 jobs.  Last year, the CFDC of Perth County invested $990,000 and assisted in creating or maintaining 253 jobs, contributing to an enhanced business community.

“This funding will allow us to help the community in priority areas, such as diversification of agriculture, labour force development, tourism and downtown development, and innovation and technology,” said Dave Shearer, Chair of the CFDC of Perth County.  “We are delighted to play a lead role in contributing to the future prosperity of this region.”

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

Robert Naud
Senior Communications Officer, Industry Canada/FedNor
(613) 954-3691 or 1 877 333-6673