Annual conference boasts record attendance. (Fednor Update).

More than 225 delegates from across the province gathered in Thunder Bay June 9-11, 2001, to participate in the annual conference of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC). Aptly titled, Opening Doors to Community Futures, the three-day conference featured a blend of informative workshops, seminars, plenary sessions, and the OACFDC Annual General Meeting and Policy Forum.

The Conference was also the forum for several important announcements, simultaneously webcast during a live news conference, made by the Honourable Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State for Rural Development and FedNor. Mr. Mitchell announced the creation of a new investment pool that will provide Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in Northeastern Ontario with greater loan capacity. FedNor will contribute $150 000 to this pilot project with the Northeast CFDC Network.

"CFDCs are key partners in this government's efforts to strengthen local economies," says Mr. Mitchell. "Small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. This initiative is an opportunity to help them flourish by improving their access to capital."

Mr. Mitchell also joined representatives of the OACFDC and FedNor to help launch a comprehensive marketing effort to improve the visibility and corporate image of CFDCs in Ontario. The Common Identifier Marketing Strategy was unveiled on the final day of the conference.

"This 'new look' will ensure CFDCs are easily identified no matter where they are located in the province," says Barb Fisher, Past-President of the OACFDC.

RELATED ARTICLE: Participation record au congres annuel.

Plus de 225 delegues de toute la province se sont rassembles a Thunder Bay, du 9 au 11 juin 2001, pour participer au congres annuel de l'Association des Societes d'aide au developpement des collectivites de l'Ontario (ASADCO). La conference de trois jours, intitulee * Ouvrons les portes au developpement des collectivites * avait a l'ordre du jour un melange d'ateliers informatifs, de colloques, de seances plenieres de meme que l'assemblee generale annuelle de l'ASADCO et le forum sur les politiques.

La conference a egalement donne lieu plusieurs annonces importantes, diffusees simultanement sur le Web pendant la conference de presse en direct de l'honorable Andy Mitchell, Secretaire d'Etat (Developpement rural) (FedNor). M. Mitchell a annonce la creation d'un fonds commun d'investissement qui fournira aux Societes d'aide au developpement des collectivites (SADC) du Nord-Est de l'Ontario une plus grande capacite accorder des prets.

FedNor versera 150 000 $ a ce projet pilote auquel participe le reseau des SADC du Nord-Est.

* Les SADC sont des partenaires cles relativement aux efforts que deploie le gouvernement pour renforcer les economies locales, declare M. Mitchell. Les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) constituent la pierre angulaire de notre economie. En ameliorant leur acces au capital, cette initiative permettra aux PME de s'epanouir.

M. Mitchell s'est egalement allie a des representants de l'ASADCO et de FedNor afin de lancer une strategie de marketing detaille pour ameliorer la visibilite et l'image de marque des SADC en Ontario. Le dernier jour du congres, on a devoile la strategie de marketing axee sur l'identificateur commun.

* Grace a la nouvelle image, il sera facile d'identifier les SADC, peu importe ou elles se trouvent dans la province, * affirme Barb Fisher, presidente sortante de l'ASADCO.