"Now in its 15th year of operation, the Norfolk District CFDC continues to be a driving force in Norfolk County, creating new community development opportunities and giving local enterprises the opportunity to expand," says Mr. Speller.

The Norfolk District CFDC, one of 56 Community Futures Development Corporations in Ontario funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program, delivers a wide variety of programs and services to support community economic development and small business growth.

This week, Canada is saluting the important contribution small and medium-sized businesses make to our economy with the celebration of Small Business Week (October 21-26), an initiative of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). On October 25, Northern and rural Ontario communities will give special recognition to Community Futures Development Corporations and the valuable services they offer local entrepreneurs and business owners with the celebration of CFDC Day.

"The Government of Canada is assisting the Norfolk District CFDC in serving local businesses and promoting a knowledge-based economy through e-commerce development," says Mr. Mitchell.  "CFDCs are catalysts for prosperity and growth in Ontario’s rural communities."

In the last five years, Ontario CFDCs, through their investment and business counselling activities, invested more than $185 million, created or maintained 22,401 jobs and leveraged more than $290 million in investments from other sources. Last year, the Norfolk District Business Development Corporation invested $1,442,422 and assisted in creating 224 jobs.

CFDCs are designed to develop and implement long-term, community-based economic development initiatives.  They employ local staff and are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of local residents representative of the community at large.

"With Industry Canada’s support we will continue to provide loans, business counselling, seminars and economic development services to area small- and medium-sized businesses," says Ken Sheppard, president of the Norfolk District Business Development Corporation.

Through this initiative the Government of Canada is acting on its commitment to support economic growth and diversification in rural communities.

Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

For more information, please contact:
Christine Aquino, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Andy Mitchell, (613) 759-1085
Cara Prest, Communications Officer, (613) 946-4446 or 1-877-333-6673