September 2014
The Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport received a prestigious Community Economic Development Award out of many nominations from across the province at the Annual Conference of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations. Over 250 guests and delegates from Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) recently met at Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville, for the event. Many of the CFDCs had nominated successful businesses they had assisted with business counselling and loans. The Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre Inc. is one of 61 CFDCs across Ontario. On hand to accept the award were Rick McNabb, Airport Commission Member, and Bill Spinney, Executive Director of Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre Inc.
The Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport’s Industrial Expansion Project was developed in concert with the Township of Seguin, the Town of Parry Sound, and the Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre Inc. The project involves the development of infrastructure at the field, which includes water and sewer (septic) services, a fire suppression system, roads, taxiways, apron, three-phase hydro, floating docks for amphibious aircraft, blasting and ground preparation – all that provide the building sites and services small or medium-sized businesses require, in order to create the jobs the community needs.
The Airport was officially opened on July 10, 1979, by then Premier Bill Davis, and consisted of a 3000 foot, paved runway and a trailer for a terminal. Not much changed until 2004, which is when the councils of the day recognized the true value of having an airport in the community. Over and above the obvious benefit of the emergency services it can accommodate, there came the realization that this property was, in fact, a potential industrial park with 4200 feet of tarmac in front of it.
Since 2004, led by Airport Commission Chair and Seguin Township Councillor Doug Sainsbury, there have been 5 separate and distinct Phases of the Industrial Expansion Project completed. “We are now the only municipal airport in Ontario that’s profitable”, says Councillor Sainsbury. “What we discovered when we came here, was this really was a diamond in the rough”. Councillor Sainsbury now enjoys the contrast between the Airport’s past and present states: “My favourite thing is looking at before and after photographs. When you look at that, you say, ‘Wow - look what we’ve done.’”
The Parry Sound Area Community & Business Development Centre Inc. has been an integral part of this project since its inception, in the creation of the long-range development plan, writing of the applications to senior government funders, management of the resultant contracts and cash flows, as well as capital and operational funding to five of the new commercial Airport tenants through their local lending portfolio and the North Eastern Ontario Investment Pool.
Bill Spinney, Executive Director of Parry Sound Area Community & Business Development Centre Inc., likewise commends Councillor Sainsbury and the Commission: “The driving force has been the Commission led by Councillor Sainsbury…and the volunteer members of that Commission. They all have a passion for seeing this facility grow.”
Phase #6 is currently underway on the Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport’s Industrial Expansion Project, and is due for completion by December 31, 2014. By that time, the following will have been accomplished: a combined $4.3 million contributed by FedNor and NOHFC, which has levered – $10.2 million leveraged in private sector investment in commercial/private hangers and equipment; brought 10 new business operators to the Airport; added 60 full-time jobs at the field; created 2 new full-time Airport staff positions; expanded the Wings Café services (2 positions); and refurbished the Business Centre Terminal with handicap-accessible washrooms, a pilots’ lounge, rental office space, and a boardroom for the Commission and Airport tenants to use.
“Our motto, ‘Build it and they will come’, has turned out to be very, very true”, says Councillor Sainsbury. Mr. Spinney concurs that one of their challenges “is being able to keep up with the demand. As we build it, they’re coming.”
Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) offer free business counselling, loans for start-up and expansion of small business, strategic planning on local projects, and community economic development in rural areas. Each CFDC is locally managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, funded with the support of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan through FedNor and FedDev Ontario. To learn more about Community Futures Program in Ontario or the OACFDC, go to www.oacfdc.com.
Photo: The Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport Project received the “Community Economic Development” Award at the recent Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations’ Conference. On hand for the awards ceremony were Carmen DeMarco of FedNor, Rick McNabb of the Airport Commission, Bill Spinney of the Parry Sound Area CBDC and Award Sponsor Sharon Wilson, “The Benefits Lady”.
For more information about the Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre Inc., contact:
Bill Spinney, Executive Director
Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre Inc.
1A Church Street
Parry Sound, ON P2A 1Y2
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 705-746-4455
For more information about the Community Futures Program or the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations, contact:
Brenda LaGrandeur, Communications and Professional Development Officer
Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations Inc. (OACFDC)
300 South Edgeware Road, St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 4L1
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone: 519-633-2326, ext. 125
Toll Free: 1-888-633-2326, ext. 125
Fax: 519-633-3563