CANtrade™ is a repayable loan program now available in Peterborough and Renfrew Counties to help businesses adapt to today’s evolving trade landscape
June 26, 2025 – Peterborough, ON – Community Futures Peterborough and Renfrew County Community Futures will offer the localized program CANtrade™, a repayable loan offering for businesses to access financing to help respond to today’s evolving trade landscape and position themselves for long-term growth. This loan offering is made available through the Community Futures Program.
“As local businesses face increasing complexity in global trade and supply chains, they need the right tools to not only adapt but lead,” said Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “By offering CANtrade™, we’re helping more businesses invest forward, strengthen domestic operations, and seize new trade and market opportunities.” Community Futures Peterborough is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Whether businesses are shifting supply chains, growing inter-provincial trade, or expanding exports of locally made products, CANtrade™ is designed to provide repayable loans to support area businesses. Highlights of the CAN Trade loan offering include:
- Loans from $5,000 to $150,000
- Interest rates from prime to prime +2%
- Repayment terms up to 60 months
- Interest-only payments for the first 6 months
- No prepayment penalties
The launch of the CANtrade™ program across the Peterborough region was announced this week at both the Community Futures Peterborough and Renfrew County Community Futures AGM.
“Our local businesses are resourceful and resilient, and this loan offering gives them one more way to act boldly in uncertain times,” said Cyndy Phillips, Executive Director of Renfrew County Community Futures. “We’re excited to bring CANtrade™ to our communities and continue backing the people and businesses who power our regional economy.”
Details on program eligibility can be found on the organization’s websites at: cfpeterborough.ca and rccfdc.org
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 $42 million in loan dollars supporting 1,300+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,600 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. In 2024, Community Futures Peterborough began delivery of the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program, funded by the Province of Ontario. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and the County of Peterborough. The Business Advisory Centre provides a full suite of wrap-around business advisory services from launch to exit and currently advises hundreds of local businesses annually.
About Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation (RCCFDC)
Renfrew County Community Futures is a not-for-profit, community-based organization funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, under the Community Futures Program. Since 1986, RCCFDC has been dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises across Renfrew County by providing business financing, advisory services, and support for community projects. To date, RCCFDC has invested nearly $50 million in loans and grants, leveraging an additional $44 million and helping to create or maintain over 5,000 local jobs.
About Fed Dev Ontario:
For over 15 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 impact the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.
Media Contacts:
Devon Girard, Executive Director
Community Futures Peterborough
devon@cfpeterborough.ca
Cell: 705-957-3641
Cyndy Phillips, Executive Director
Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation
cyndy.phillips@rccfdc.org
Cell: 613-401-1650