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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Community Futures GM appointed new EDCO president
Gord Knowles, the General Manager of the Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre (CB&DC), has recently been appointed president of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). Knowles becomes the youngest president in EDCO's 63-year history. The position was last held by a Northern Ontarian and head of a Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) in 2008.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be selected to serve our members in an organization that has meant so much to me for so long,” said Knowles. “I look forward to leading the organization with the same sort of collaborative vision I’ve been fortunate enough to take part in with so many stakeholders this past decade.”
Congratulations Gord!
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INNOVATION
Looking for ideas for businesses for rural or remote communities?
Mike Nesselbeck started Business Idea Insight as an online resource built for new and aspiring entrepreneurs, with the purpose of teaching proven strategies and tips for thinking of and developing business ideas you can actually execute. He is based in Vancouver, BC. Here's his post about some unique business ideas specifically for rural and remote people and communities.
Nominate an Entrepreneur Today for a CANIE Award!
Nominations Now Open for the Canada Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards |
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NEWS & COMMUNITY
Community Futures joint initiative launches business incubator
There’s a new business incubator for entrepreneurs in the Kawartha Lakes! The business incubator — which helps create and grow young businesses by providing them with necessary support, financial, and technical services — is part of a joint pilot project by the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and The Kawarthas and the City of Kawartha Lakes." (article courtesy of Kawartha Now)
More Community Futures partnerships at work!
The co-owner of Lecours Motor Sales used to hold his breath every time one of the three local sawmills entered into contract talks because it inevitably led to a community-wide hold on spending. To minimize the impact on his business, Jean Lecours Jr. set his sights on servicing and repairing commercial fleet vehicles. In doing so, he realized that rail customers could provide his family-owned Ford dealership with a way to diversify its operations. A loan from the 14 participating Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) through the Northeastern Ontario Investment Pool, administered by the Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDC) in Hearst, helped secure a portion of the financing for the multi-million dollar construction project. In 2018, Lecours Motor Sales won the CF Ontario Entrepreneur of the year award for leadership in diversifying the local economy. The award is proudly displayed in the dealership’s lobby.
Community Futures Ontario adds new Communications and Project Coordinator
My name is Shauna Rae and it is my privilege to serve the members of CF Ontario! Below is a bit about me. I started with the Community Futures family working as a Business Development and Community Outreach Officer with Community Futures Middlesex. Before that, I was tasked with raising the profile of the non-profit organization, the Southwest Economic Alliance and their Intelligent Region Project, building a case for accessible and affordable high-speed internet in rural, remote and underserviced areas of Ontario. I also worked with for-profit companies like ZTR Control Systems, a software and tech company as a Marketing and Public Relations professional. I am a proud graduate of the Journalism Broadcast program at Fanshawe College and I thoroughly enjoyed a decade long career in radio and television broadcasting. I wrote a column for the London Free Press for many years and I currently write a column for Business London Magazine called “The Broad Perspective” about women in the workplace. I am a member of Canadian Women in Communications and Technology and of my local Dorchester Lions Club. I love documentaries, reading, tinkering with technology and I'm fascinated by the shifting journalism and social media landscape. I grew up in Stratford, Ontario and I now live in Dorchester, Ontario with my husband Dan and our precocious dog, Lola. How can I support you? I'd like to know what your pain points are when it comes to communicating with clients and partners. What would you like to learn about, and from, each other? I'd love to promote your client success stories and your own personal victories too. Please send them along! Do you have a story about a creative way you solved a problem for a client or partner? I'm all ears and happy to share! Does your CFDC use the Canva platform to promote your organization's news and events? If so, I can share what we create with you (and you can edit/alter to suit your needs), all I need is the email address attached to your Canva account. Please drop me a note and I'll send you an invitation. My email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you can reach me at 519-633-2326. I look forward to connecting with you soon. Oh, and please follow us on the following platforms. Instagram and LinkedIn to come!
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ACROSS ONTARIO
Canadian Women's Foundation launches second round of IRP applications
As one of the partners in the Investment Readiness Program announced by the Federal Government in June 2019, the Canadian Women’s Foundation will receive $3 million over two years to help social purpose organizations become investment ready to access the new Social Finance Fund. The Canadian Women’s Foundation will launch its 2nd round of IRP application from February 24th – April 3rd, 2020. The third round is anticipated in September 2020. |
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LESSONS LEARNED & BEST PRACTICES
Exploring social procurement possibilities in Peterborough
Buy Social Canada went to Peterborough and met with city staff, councillors, community members, and social enterprisers to explore social procurement possibilities. Together, each of these small groups represent the necessary elements of what could be a game changer for city’s like Peterborough.
TIPS: Social Enterprise and the Investment Readiness Program
Looking for some assistance/resources in preparing for your social enterprise submission to the Investment Readiness Program? Or even learning what constitures a social enterprise when it comes to government funding? Below is a recent webinar from Community Foundation of Grey Bruce and the Social Enterprise Network of Central Ontario with some tips and resources!
Are small businesses safe from cyber attacks?
Today’s cyber-attacks are simple enough to be deployed at a large scale, and hackers are using them to target small businesses. "The cyberthreat landscape has evolved; attacks don’t stem from only rogue hackers hoping to get access to corporate secrets from large businesses. Instead, small businesses are just as likely to be the victim of cyber-attacks as large corporations, with organized crime groups targeting points of weakness in the hopes of making quick money." What you and your clients need to know. |
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HR & CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Self assessment tool to test for entrepreneurial potential
This questionnaire includes 50 statements and takes about 10 minutes. There are no right or wrong answers. It may be a good tool to have potential clients and lenders try. For each statement, clients should choose the number that best describes their opinion. Once completed, the answers will be compiled, and one can evaluate entrepreneurial traits, as concerns motivations, aptitudes and attitudes. |
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The Update - Your NewsletterDo you have feedback or story ideas for the next Update? Contact Community Futures Ontario at 1-888-633-2326 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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