Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) support community economic development by assisting Ontario’s rural and northern communities to strengthen and diversify their economies.
With 37 corporations in rural southern Ontario and 24 in Northern Ontario, CFDCs are well positioned to offer local solutions to local needs.
CFDCs are community-based, not-for-profit organizations that are each run by a board of local volunteers. They are staffed by professionals who encourage entrepreneurship and the pursuit of economic opportunities.
Through FedNor / Industry Canada, the Government of Canada provides funding, advice, and support to 61 CFDCs located throughout Ontario.
CFDCs offer four main services:
- Strategic community planning and socio-economic development. CFDCs work closely with communities to assess local challenges and to look at new ideas and opportunities that could strengthen their economies. In consideration of the unique circumstances of the local area, they plan and help implement development strategies that are designed to build brighter futures for the communities they serve.
- Support for community-based projects. Through CFDCs collaborate with a variety of partners from the public and private sectors to implement projects or special initiatives targeted to their communities in areas such as tourism, entrepreneurship, economic diversification and community adjustment.
- Business services. CFDCs understand small businesses and the local marketplace. They provide important services to businesses, entrepreneurs and social enterprises, including:
- Business counselling, documentation and referrals
- Guidance with business plans
- Export support
- Entrepreneurial training
- Information on relevant federal and provincial programs and services
- Access to capital. Through Government of Canada funding, CFDCs administer local investment funds to help finance new or existing small businesses and social enterprises for start-up, expansion or stabilization plans that help maintain or create jobs. Repayable financing of up to $150,000 on commercial terms through loans, loan guarantees, or equity investments is available when financing from other sources is insufficient. All CFDC financing decisions are made at the community level by the local boards of directors.
If you would like to pursue an economic opportunity in your area, we would like to hear from you. Together we can make it happen.
Contact Us By:
Phone At: 1-866-668-2332
Email To:
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