Community Economic Development (CED)
We work with entrepreneurs and alongside community leaders to create and support successful, sustainable businesses in Renfrew County. Together, we create Community Economic Development plans and implement projects to support value-added activity and expansion into new sectors. We take a ‘big picture view’ of the health of our community’s businesses and help with broad business retention and succession planning strategies.
CED Services
Our team is available to support Renfrew County municipalities and community organizations in their community development efforts. The project must be linked to Community Futures’ goals and objectives and not create long-term dependency upon the Corporation.
If your organization has a desire to grow and/or diversify, contact us to explore ideas for working together.
Some examples of how we can support communities include:
Economic development planning
Strategic planning
Project planning and project management
Training and resource sharing
Projects that create economic impact through strengthening and expanding tourism markets
Research
Connections to expertise
Non-profit board development training
Algonquin College New Campus
In 2005 Algonquin College submitted an application to the government of Canada’s EODP program provided by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and administered by Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation. This application provided the funding with the College needed to start planting the seed for a new campus, which has culminated in a $36-million project. The fruits of this effort can now be seen along the waterfront in downtown Pembroke.
Ottawa River Heritage Designation
The Ottawa River has been described as the original Trans-Canada Highway and is the only Canadian river that crosses four major geological subdivisions. It was nominated as a Canadian Heritage River based on outstanding cultural heritage values to the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board.
The efforts to bring about the designation of the Ottawa River began in 2002 when the RCCFDC approved the Ottawa River Legacy Landmark Network to fund two days / one evening workshop to bring together key tourism stakeholders from communities and agencies along the waterway to strategically look at market development and communications for an enhanced tourism corridor. As a result, in 2003, the Ottawa River Heritage Designation Committee was formed. Members were comprised from the Algonquin First Nations, Lake Timiskaming Region, Mattawa Region, Renfrew County, National Capital Region and the County of Prescott – Russell.
Ultimately, it was on July 28, 2016, that the Ottawa River was officially designated a Canadian Heritage River.
RC100
RC100 was launched in 2018, modeled after the N100 competition that has been delivered successfully since 2013 by the Northumberland CFDC.
The competition was designed to accelerate high growth potential start-ups and to position them for follow-on investment, with the $100,000 convertible note supporting key milestones in the start-ups development, such as finalizing a prototype. Transforming raw ideas into investment ready opportunities.