February 2, 2005

HARROWSMITH, Ontario, February 2, 2005 — The Honourable Peter Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, welcomed the announcement made today by the Honourable Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State (FedNor), of Industry Canada support to the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) to implement four components of the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF):  Skills Development; Access to Capital; Youth Retention and Attraction initiatives; and the Local Initiative Fund.

The EODF is a $10-million Government of Canada initiative announced last spring.  It promotes socio-economic development in rural Eastern Ontario, contributes to the successful development of business and job opportunities as well as sustainable, self-reliant communities, and will lead to a competitive and diversified regional economy.

“CFDCs play a very important role as catalysts for economic growth and diversification in the communities they serve,” said Mr. Milliken.  “These initiatives will benefit the region by creating a highly skilled workforce and youth employment opportunities, and by providing access to capital for projects important to the community.”

There are 61 CFDCs in rural and Northern Ontario funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program through FedNor.  CFDCs are designed to develop and implement long-term, community-based economic development initiatives.  They employ local staff and are governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of local residents representative of the community.

Industry Canada is contributing a total of $450 000 to the Frontenac CFDC in support of these initiatives.

“We are eager to address challenges impacting the region, such as youth migration, by leading efforts to create jobs, foster participation in the knowledge-based economy and build community capacity,” said Ryan Seeds, Chair of the Frontenac CFDC.

Through this initiative, the Government of Canada is acting upon its commitment to support economic growth and diversification in rural areas. 
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’s 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