September 28, 2005

BLENHEIM, Ontario, September 28, 2005 – The Honourable Jerry Pickard, Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent–Essex, and Rose-Marie Ur, Member of Parliament for Lambton–Kent–Middlesex, today announced a Government of Canada investment of $275,000 towards the continued operation of the Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) of Chatham-Kent.

“The funding allows this local level partner to continue working with businesses to help them flourish and assisting communities in reaching their long-term economic development goals,” said Mr. Pickard.

“Small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, so it is important we have the resources and services in place to foster growth, job creation and diversification” said Ms. Ur.

The CFDC of Chatham-Kent is one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in rural and Northern Ontario funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program through FedNor.  CFDCs deliver a wide variety of programs and services to support community economic development and small business growth.  They employ local staff and are each governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of local residents representative of the community.

In the last five years, Ontario CFDCs, through their investment and business counselling activities, invested more than $229 million to help the small business sector create or maintain 26,418 jobs.  Last year, the Community Futures Development Corporation of Chatham-Kent invested $1,047,474 and assisted in creating or maintaining 77 jobs, contributing to an enhanced business community.

“We are delighted to continue having a key role to play in the future prosperity of this area by providing needed resources, counselling and information services,” said Anne Gilbert, Chair of the CFDC of Chatham-Kent.  “Priorities include our ongoing participation in efforts to address the doctor shortage in the area and to encourage diversification opportunities.”

Through its investment in CFDCs, 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 February 2005 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 Andy Mitchell, Minister of State (FedNor)

(613) 947-5850

Yves Chateauneuf

Communications Officer, Industry Canada/FedNor

(519) 645-5684 or 1 877 333-6673