The community volunteers and staff who make up B.C.'s Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) will be joining their counterparts in the three Prairie provinces in the 2nd annual 'Celebrating Community Futures Week' that will take place the week of October 8-12 in 90 different CFDC locations across the four western provinces.

This special initiative will give British Columbians the opportunity to learn more about this federally supported, community-based program that is responsible for roughly 10 per cent of all jobs created or maintained in rural B.C. every year.

The Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie), praised the non-profit CFDCs for their ongoing role in strengthening community economies across the West.

"My Department is proud to support the 90 CFDCs in Western Canada," said Minister Duhamel. "Through the direction of local businesses and business experts, these offices provide a hub where talent, experience and wisdom gather together in a community to build that community's sustainable future. The results achieved by the Community Futures program are impressive."

"The CFDCs in B.C. engage in a wide array of initiatives throughout the province year-round," commented Dave Wilbur, Chairperson of the Community Futures Development Association of B.C. "Whether through the delivery of business training and loans or the facilitation of community planning to build a stronger future, the bottom line is that their work has a positive impact on communities across BC. The benefit of Community Futures Week is that people are invited to learn about the results for themselves by visiting their local CFDC and talking to the professional staff and volunteers."

The principles of community economic development guide all CFDC activities. For example, the 34 CFDCs in B.C act as facilitators, bringing together diverse groups to develop a locally driven vision for their future. They also provide small businesses with repayable loans of up to $125,000 and a wide range of business services, including mentoring and loan after-care. In the last fiscal year, B.C.'s CFDCs made over 830 business loans totaling more than $27 million. These loans created or maintained 2,715 private-sector jobs in rural B.C., and leveraged an additional $34 million in local investments. A conservative estimate places additional, indirect job creation at more than 2,500 during the same period.

B.C.'s CFDCs are planning a range of events to give local business owners a chance to celebrate their successes of the past year-or to plan future ones. Open houses, receptions, tours, award shows, and much more will be taking place in or near your community. Contact your local CFDC to find out how your region will be celebrating local entrepreneurship.

Community Futures Development Corporations are partners with Western Economic Diversification Canada in the Western Canada Business Service Network, and receive core-operating funding from the Government of Canada. Local volunteer boards administer these offices.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Jean-Pierre Roy
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Vancouver, B.C.
(604) 666-1318