May 16, 2008
PRESCOTT: The Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation has been recognized as an outstanding CFDC for its work in the community. The Grenville CFDC serves the municipalities of Prescott, Kemptville, Grenville, Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and Augusta. The Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations honours its own each year with the CFDC Achievement Award, which acknowledges individual CFDCs for economic development in their local area.
The Grenville CFDC has been successful in three areas: strategic planning and development, business services and access to capital.
Three Achievement Awards were presented at the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporation’s (OACFDC) 15th Annual Conference held in Stratford recently. The OACFDC is a provincial organization of 61 Community Futures offices, serving northern and rural Ontario. Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) provide small business counselling and loans, as well as collaborating on community economic development projects in small towns and rural areas. In Ontario, CFDCs are funded by Industry Canada through FedNor. Community volunteers form the boards of directors of each CFDC and make decisions based on the needs of the local economy.
Executive Director Heather Lawless points to her office’s solid track record. “We’re an integral partner in strategic planning,” she says. They work with such organizations as Leeds and Grenville International Plowing Match, Kemptville Campus of the University of Guelph, and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville on various projects requiring planning and development.
The Grenville CFDC also delivers the Self-Employment Benefit Program. In just nine months last year, they assisted unemployed people with the start up of 58 businesses, creating 87 jobs. They also provided loans to 20 businesses which impacted 110 jobs.
Almost 350 members of the OACFDC were on hand to see the award presented to Grenville CFDC at the conference in Stratford. . The Achievement Awards are sponsored by Desjardins Financial Security and Comprehensive Benefits Solutions, insurance providers to OACFDC members.
For more information about GCFDC, contact:
Heather Lawless , Executive Director
Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation
Box 309, 197 Water Street, Suite 405
Prescott, Ontario K0E 1T0
Phone: (613) 925-4275 é Fax: (613) 925-3758
Website: www.grenvillecfdc.com
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information, contact:
Mary Alderson, Member Services Coordinator
Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations
300 South Edgeware Road
St. Thomas, ON N5P 4L1
519-633-2326 ext.124
888-633-2326 ext.124
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.ontcfdc.com