Community Futures Peterborough Celebrates Record Breaking Year
June 23, 2026 – Peterborough, ON – Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) celebrated a record-breaking year today at its Annual General Meeting held at the Venture North Building in downtown Peterborough. Surrounded by business leaders, elected officials, board members, business owners, and community partners, the organization celebrated over four decades of empowering local businesses in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.
“Forty years of Community Futures Peterborough means 40 years of believing in entrepreneurs, funding businesses, and strengthening our regional economy,” says Devon Girard, executive director of Community Futures Peterborough. “We’ve played a key role in helping thousands of local businesses start, grow, and thrive, and today, we are so proud to honour that legacy.”
During the event, Community Futures Peterborough announced a record-breaking year for both lending and business advisory services. In fiscal year 2025-2026, the organization received more than $4.36 million in loan applications and disbursed a record 56 loans totaling over $2.06 million to local businesses across the City and County. Through these investments, Community Futures Peterborough helped create or maintain 167 local jobs.
“The Government of Canada supports Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) like Community Futures Peterborough through the Community Futures Program to strengthen small businesses and drive economic growth in rural communities. By investing in local entrepreneurs and organizations, we are helping build resilient rural communities and create opportunities where they are needed most. I congratulate Community Futures Peterborough on its work supporting businesses and contributing to the vitality of rural communities across the region,” said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
In addition, the Business Advisory Centre delivered a record 541 in-depth business advisory consultations and supported more than 741 unique businesses through its in-person workshops.
“This record-breaking year is a prime example of what happens when we cut red tape and deliver smart, streamlined services for our local economy,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “By integrating the Business Advisory Centre under one roof, we have created an efficient, highly successful model that maximizes every dollar and puts entrepreneurship front and centre. Our government is committed to fueling economic growth, and by supporting Community Futures Peterborough, we are making sure local businesses have the direct capital and advisory tools they need to create jobs, drive innovation, and keep the Peterborough region open for business.”
“The integration of the Small Business Enterprise Centre program has reshaped how we deliver services as an organization,” says outgoing board chair Wayne Harding. “The strong results from this fiscal year reinforce why bringing advisory and lending services together under one roof is an effective and efficient model for supporting entrepreneurs and our business community.”
This year’s AGM marked the departure of board chair Wayne Harding, who has been serving on the board of directors for 10 years, which is the maximum term. Sir Sandford Fleming employee and former small business owner Jenny Olauson was elected today as the new chair of the board of directors.
“It’s an honour to build on more than 40 years of impact,” says Olauson. “Our board has identified a strategic vision to build on the foundation of the Business Advisory Centre by expanding service offerings, deepening support for established businesses, and helping more businesses scale and grow across our region.”
Key Facts About Community Futures Peterborough:
- Since its inception in 1985, Community Futures Peterborough has proudly invested over $44 million in loan dollars supporting 1,900+ small businesses and directly creating or maintaining more than 4,900 jobs in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.
- The historical loan portfolio reflects the diverse makeup of the region’s local economy, with Manufacturing (20%), Other Services (16%), Retail (15%), and Accommodation & Food Services (14%) comprising the top sectors, representing 65% of Community Futures Peterborough’s total loan investments.
- The organization has supported a growing number of women-owned businesses (41%) and other diverse entrepreneurs (34%), including Indigenous, youth, LGBTQ2S+, and social enterprise leaders.
- With 48% of loans supporting startups, 35% fueling expansion, and 17% helping maintain businesses, Community Futures Peterborough has remained a reliable and stable partner at every stage of the business journey. And with 44% of loans coming from repeat customers, the long-term relationships continue to drive meaningful economic impact across the City of Peterborough (58%) and Peterborough County (42%).
- In 2024, Community Futures Peterborough began delivering the Small Business Enterprise Centre program and continues to serve as a hub for small business success, offering personalized support through financing, expert advisory services, and strategic partnerships. It offers a fully comprehensive suite of free wraparound advisory services that support businesses from launch to exit.
- Since 2024, the Business Advisory Centre has delivered more than 800 in-depth one-on-one consultations with local entrepreneurs and business owners.
- Since 2024, more than 1,500 unique attendees participated in workshops, training sessions, and entrepreneurship programming offered through Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre.
- Since 2024, the Business Advisory Centre has delivered over 100 workshops and training sessions.
- Since 2024, the Business Advisory Centre has disbursed $200,000 in grant funding to small businesses through entrepreneurship programs.
Additional Quotes:
“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are at the heart of Peterborough’s economy, and this past year has shown just how much talent, resilience, and creativity exists across our region. I’m proud that the Government of Canada continues to provide significant investments in organizations like Community Futures Peterborough, enabling them to deliver the financing, mentorship, and resources that help our local businesses succeed. From new startups to growing companies, these entrepreneurs are creating jobs, driving innovation, and strengthening our communities. It’s inspiring to see so many people building their future right here in Peterborough and Peterborough County, and we’re proud to support their continued growth.” – Emma Harrison, Member of Parliament, Peterborough.
“Community Futures Peterborough is a foundational asset to our local economy. By helping local businesses to expand and thrive, Community Futures supports the creation of vital services and employment opportunities for our residents. The City of Peterborough is proud to partner with Community Futures Peterborough to support a healthy local economy, and our broader community.” – Jeff Leal, Mayor, City of Peterborough
“Community Futures Peterborough continues to be a vital partner in building a strong and resilient rural economy. Their commitment to supporting entrepreneurs across Peterborough County helps create local jobs, strengthen our communities, and ensure our businesses have the tools they need to grow and succeed. We are proud to work alongside an organization that is so deeply invested in the future of our region.” – Bonnie Clark, Warden, Peterborough County.
About Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County. It has invested more than $44 million in 1,900+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,900 jobs in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough 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. The Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program is delivered locally by Community Futures Peterborough and funded in partnership with the Government of Ontario. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.
About FedDev Ontario
Since 2009, 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 impact the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our impact stories, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.
Media Contacts:
Devon Girard
Executive Director
Community Futures Peterborough
Mobile: 705-957-3641
Peter Wall
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
