Message from the Retiring Chair

Over the years, I’ve been involved with a lot of organizations and I’m proud to say this is the best, most energetic group of people and the most effective organization that I’ve ever had the pleasure to be part of.

Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin was formed as a not for profit corporation August 30 1995.

Community Futures serves an area of 5,442 sq. km. encompassing 12 incorporated municipalities. 2006 census figures listed the population at 29,000 seasonally adjusted to approximately 42,000.

Community Futures' mission is to assist business and promote economic development.

We are very successful at what we do.

We are proud and have every right to be proud.

What makes it work and makes us successful is the Community Futures Team that we have built. The Team - Directors, Politicians, Community Partners and Staff all working for the betterment of our community is a very powerful and productive combination.

I am proud to extend thanks to our dedicated Board of Directors for their tireless efforts and community championship. Special thanks to their very understanding spouses.

Our grateful appreciation is extended to our MP Daryl Kramp for his help and for championing the Eastern Ontario Development Program.

A very special thank you to our Warden Ron Emond who has been a long time supporter and trusted partner of Community Futures.

Perhaps the largest credit goes to our community partners and our clients. We create the jobs, the serious impact and the economic development by working with and through our community partners and small businesses.

And thanks also to our talented and professional staff, the catalyst through which it all comes together and makes it happen.

And thank you to our unfailing Industry Canada FedNor support providing advice and keeping us on the path to greater and grander reporting.

Last year Community Futures invested $1,590,249 in 35 new loans to create or maintain 188 jobs.

In fact since 2001 each year we have made a minimum of $1.5 million to $1.9 million in new loans. This year, we have 157 active loans worth $6.5 million

616 businesses have been assisted and $21.7 million has been disbursed and 1600 jobs have been created or maintained since inception.

The average one time cost per job is less than $10,000.

Through the Self Employment Benefit Program we have assisted 290 people create their own businesses.

We believe our accomplishments speak for themselves

In the past eight years, our Community Futures has won nine awards and our project partners another two. Province wide recognition from our peers.

As far as the other side of our mandate goes - promoting economic development, look around us.

By working with and through our community partners, North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin has:

• an Economic Development Officer,
• two Skate Board Parks,
• a Community Fish Hatchery,
• a Tri Area Medical Centre,
• a Community Arts Centre,
• Active Commercial Revitalization efforts,
• 13 Scenic Routes
• Harvest Hastings,
• Comfort Country,
• Bancroft Waterfront Development,
• North Hastings Economic Development Committee,
• Hidden Goldmine Bakery at the Royal Winter Fair,
• Enchanted Woods Fine Furniture at the One of a Kind Show,
• Comfort Country's Award winning Branding Strategy,
• Maynooth Celtic Festival,
• Bancroft Concerts in the Park,

There is Economic Development activity and we have played a vital role in helping to make it happen.

We are the Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin.

Thank you all for the part you have played.

We’re proud of our team – Community Futures - staff and directors partnering with community champions to achieve together.