2010 to be Frontenac CFDC's best year ever

Oct 14, 2010

Photo: FCFDC staff Sue Theriault, Liz Crothers, Harvey Webster (guest speaker), Kevin Doyle, Anne Prichard and Krista Fazackerley

The Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC) held their AGM on Oct. 7 at the Verona Lions hall. After attending to business, outgoing board chair Liz Crothers gave an emotional goodbye and it was announced that three candidates have been nominated to replace her as board chair: Louise Pike, Tom Dewey and Betty Hunter.

Kevin Doyle is the corporation’s new business development officer and has been on board for the last four months. Doyle highlighted the accomplishments of the FCFDC since its inception in 2004. To date over $4 million has been loaned out to local area businesses, with this past year’s total from July to June 2010 amounting to $885,000 alone. The corporation has helped to create 18 new full-time jobs and maintained 36 others this past year, and Doyle was pleased to announce that, “This year alone in just four months - from June 2010 to Sept 2010 - we are on target to have by far our biggest year ever with a total of over half a million dollars being loaned out to local businesses so far.” He encouraged all local businesses who are not aware of their services to get in touch and invited those present to offer any suggestions they might have for upcoming seminars.

Executive Director Ann Prichard highlighted the organization’s ongoing strategic plan which will be updated again this year but which has to date been geared to “helping develop year-round, well-paid employment opportunities, and to improve the visual appeal, range and local services and vitality in the community”. Last year the FCFDC supported more than 100 EODP projects. Prichard then highlighted the FCFDC's four major areas of focus within those two goals: broadband infrastructure, environment, agriculture and tourism product.

She mentioned a number of the local area business that have benefited in each sector. In the first were a number of local businesses who were able to start up websites and other broadband communications, including the Land O' Lakes Tourism Association, the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, the Frontenac Arch Biosphere and Northern Connections Adult Learning Centre.

On the environmental front the FCFDC has invested in a number of local businesses for skills training and internships and has lent out interest-free loans for upgrades to septic systems. The organization has also worked with Frontenac County to hire a project manager to grow and brand the region as a green business-friendly area ripe for investment.

In the agriculture sector the FCFDC piloted a new newsletter that more 540 farmers have since requested, and has helped to develop the “Invest in Cheese” project. Out of 158 applicants, the project’s promotional marketing campaign won the first place marketing award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada, which is something that Prichard and her staff are “extremely proud of”.

In the tourism product area the FCFDC's aim was to grow a four-season tourism industry and to build a year-round retreat/arts centre in the area. With the FCFDC's help Wintergreen Studio on Canoe Lake road has accomplished that first goal.

Prichard also mentioned the work currently being done with sister organizations to develop plans for tourism projects around the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Prichard then introduced guest speaker Harvey Webster, general manager of the Loughborough Inn. Webster spoke of his goals to bring his campground facility that was built in 1921 up to date and allow it to become a successful four-season tourism operation by renovating various buildings and thereby making his business more viable in these difficult economic times. A loan from the FCFDC has helped him do so.

Webster is just one example of the how the FCFDC is continuing to grow local business in the county and helping to make our communities more vital. For more information about the resources they offer please visit www.frontenaccfdc.com or call 613-372-1414 or toll free at 1-888-372-9962