October 20, 2002

Technology Initiative Award – Web Site

The Greater Peterborough CFDC is submitting a nomination to the OACFDC Technology Initiative Award competition in the form of our recently updated website – www.cdc.on.ca.

We like to think of our website as a continual work in process.  As the needs of our clients and community change, we are able to quickly adapt.

Over the past year, we received many inquiries about how to better access loan applications from extended areas of the county.  The Greater Peterborough CFDC responded by adding our loan application on line.  We realize that this is the first step in a process that hopefully will culminate in having a truly "on-line" application that can be filled out and sent through a secure connection.  There are many details to still be worked out including costs, and sending attachments required with the application.  We feel we have led the process allowing our clients greater accessibility to our services and resources.

A further development was the addition of information to our county map.  You will notice that with a click on any municipality the township information will list the Reeve, Counselors, directions etc.  Our office has spent many hours crisscrossing the county to raise the profile of the CFDC, and we wanted the web site to reflect this both with the map and revolving county related pictures.

We had great fun updating the look of our site to incorporate the new identifier.  We especially like the front page, which is simple but presents the logo quite obviously as well as in background.  We are noticing an increase in inquiries by e-mail and clients are downloading the loan application directly from the website.

I must acknowledge the wonderful work done by NEXICOM, our web host and design provider.  They have accommodated our needs and understood the philosophy of our change.