New Partnerships provides local entrepreneurs with free access to Chamber Memberships
June 22, 2023 – PETERBOROUGH, ON Entrepreneurs and business owners in the community will benefit from a new partnership between Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) and Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, which will provide free chamber memberships to new CFP loan clients. The announcement was made today at Community Futures Peterborough’s Annual General Meeting.
“This is another step to showcase to our community the commitment we have to work together to support area businesses as they start, grow and scale their operations,” says Devon Girard, Executive Director of CFP. “We are thrilled to work with ecosystem partners in our community who share similar beliefs.”
The program affords new loan clients of CFP a free six-month membership from Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, providing area business owners with access to events and networking opportunities to further grow and expand their businesses.
“The Government of Canada knows that collaboration is the key to success. When local businesses and local Chambers of Commerce work in partnership with Community Futures Peterborough, jobs are created, businesses grow and communities are strengthened,” says Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “Our government is pleased to see that Community Futures across Canada are making real differences in our communities with our support.”
“Peterborough has a strong business support network, and we are happy to partner with Community Futures Peterborough and offer new loan clients a free introductory membership,” says Joel Wiebe, Vice President, Government Relations & Communications at Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce. “Businesses that tap into resources from community organizations like Community Futures and the Chamber are better equipped for success and help us build stronger communities.”
Today’s announcement builds on similar initiatives with community partners including:
- Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. Graduates of the Summer Company and Starter Company Plus programs are pre-approved for a microloan up to $20,000.
- Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Up to $20,000 in a microloan is pre-approved for all clients of the Innovation Cluster to help fund their tech startup.
- Fleming College. Pre-approval of a microloan up to $20,000 is available for students in the Global Business Management program for their new enterprise.
- Trent University. Students in the New Venture Planning and Design class are pre-approved up to $20,000 in a microloan to kickstart their new business idea.
- Cleantech Commons and Rotary Club of Peterborough. Finalists from the Rotary Environmentalist Innovators Fund are pre-approved for a microloan of up to $20,000 to grow their sustainable business ventures.
“This announcement is yet another example of CFP working closely with community partners to provide the best opportunities for area entrepreneurs,” says Charlina Westbye, Board Chair of Community Futures Peterborough. Also noted at today’s meeting are the strong signals of entrepreneurship and small business investment in the area. For example, in the past three months alone, more than $1.1 million has been approved in loans by CFP for area business owners. Today’s AGM celebrated the success of Community Futures Peterborough over the past year, which saw the organization approve more than $1.6 million in business loans to 36 local companies, creating or maintaining 176 jobs. An additional 92 businesses were supported through other CFP services including advisory programs, workshops and courses.
About Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City and County of Peterborough. It has invested more than $40 million in 1,100+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,100 jobs in the City and the County. CFP is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Community Futures Program.
About FedDev Ontario
For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Devon Girard, Executive Director
devon@cfpeterborough.ca
Mobile: 705-957-3641