January 28, 2005

COBOURG, Ontario, January 28, 2005 — The Honourable Paul Macklin, Member of Parliament for Northumberland–Quinte West, today announced Industry Canada support toward the continued operation of the Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC).

“The Government of Canada recognizes that local level partners, such as CFDCs, are best positioned to understand and address the business and economic development needs of the communities they serve,” said Mr. Macklin.  “This funding allows the Northumberland CFDC to contribute further to the prosperity of the area in a variety of ways, including helping local businesses expand into the technology sector and tap into global markets.”

The Northumberland CFDC is one of 61 CFDCs in rural Ontario funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program.  It delivers a wide variety of programs and services to support community-based economic development and small business growth.

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 Northumberland CFDC invested $405 574 and assisted in creating or maintaining 121 jobs, contributing to an enhanced business community.

CFDCs are designed to develop and implement long-term, community-based economic development initiatives.  They employ local staff and are each governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of local residents representative of the community at large.

Industry Canada is investing $250 000 toward the organization’s operational costs.

“We are proud to play a role in fostering economic growth, diversification and job creation in the region,” said David McGlennon, Chair of the Northumberland CFDC.  “We can now continue supporting area businesses and communities in reaching their full potentials.”

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, FedNor
(613) 954-3691 or 1 877 333-6673