Frontenac CFDC Celebrates New Harrowsmith Home

Jun 20, 2013

The 2013 Annual General Meeting for the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC) will go down in history as one worth remembering. The FCFDC, which began in 2004, offers loans and grants to businesses in Frontenac County with the aim of building businesses and growing vibrant communities. Last month the organization moved its home to Unit 8 of the recently erected Harrowsmith Plaza, located at 5062 County Road 38 in Harrowsmith. The new 1500 square foot office space, which is 100% wheelchair accessible, includes a larger board room, three offices and a large reception area with ample parking.

The AGM itself took place at the Lions Hall in Verona on June 13 and was followed by a special celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony in Harrowsmith at the FCFDC's new home. At the AGM, FCFDC board chair Paul Vickers highlighted the organization’s accomplishments in the first nine months of this fiscal year, which saw the opening of three new businesses in the county: The Limestone Organic Creamery, Tenango Cafe on Wolfe Island, and Sydenham's Pet and Farm Supply. Over the past nine months the FCFDC gave out 16 loans totaling $700,000, which directly resulted in the creation of 18 new full time jobs, six new part time jobs and assisted in maintaining 38.5 existing jobs in the community. Vickers reminded listeners that “for every dollar that we loan, there is $1.99 invested, resulting in a total investment of $2.1 million.” He said, “By the end of the year we gave out a total of 90 loans totaling $2.7 million and 81% of that amount is actively invested in the community. We keep our money in the community and not in our bank accounts. As soon as we can, we get a loan paid out with the goal of getting that money circling back into the community so it can create more jobs and more opportunities.”

Since the FCFDC began in January 2004, they have given out $6.6 million exclusively in loans. By comparison to the 61 other Community Futures Development corporations across Ontario, the Frontenac CFDC beat out the loan average of $564,000 by $700,000. Vickers detailed the five strategic directions of the organization, which include increasing commercial and industrial space, promoting businesses, increasing tourism accommodation and making communities more vibrant. The CFDC accomplishes their goals not only by giving out loans and grants but also by offering special workshops, promotional space and an online business directory. Vickers highlighted some of the successes stories that the FCFDC has supported so far this year, which include Mike Dean's new grocery store in Sharbot Lake.

Susan Anzolin, Director General of Innovation and Economic Development with the Federal Economic Development Agency for South Ontario (FEDDEV), who supplies the CFDC with their core funding through the Community Futures Program and the Eastern Ontario Development Program, was the first guest speaker at the event. Anzolin said, “We were very lucky this year that in March, 2013 the government of Canada renewed both the FEDDEV mandate and the EODP program for another five years. This allows organizations like the FCFDC to continue to work with you and to continue to make a difference your community.

My presence here is to underscore the message that we want to work with the Frontenac CFDC and other organizations and by focusing on innovation, we want to see Ontario become once again the engine of growth in the country.”

Underscoring how the CFDC can help new businesses get off the ground and succeed, guest speaker Michael McKenzie, co-owner of Seed to Sausage, the two-year-old specialty meats producer in Sharbot Lake, spoke of the key ingredients that have meant success for his young business, which has already crossed many milestones in its first two years, winning numerous awards, and now feeding dignitaries at Rideau Hall and the House of Commons in Ottawa. McKenzie spoke of how the FCFDC has supported the vision of the business and its commitment to creating high quality products which have paved the way to their success.

Following the AGM guests were invited to the FCFDC's new digs in Unit 8 where guests were treated to desserts and coffee and where the ribbon cutting was performed by Susan Anzolin of FEDEV, Paul Vickers and FCFDC executive director Anne Prichard.