Posted on by Deborah Jones
Community Futures Essex County - Biz X magazine
The Community Futures Essex County team — from left: Lindsay Larocque, Administrative Coordinator; Charlene Houle, Business Development Advisor; Diane Malenfant, General Manager; and Lee McGrath, Business Lending Advisor — are shown at Ember Ridge Celebrations of Life in Emeryville during a Partner Appreciation event in September. Photo courtesy of CFEC.
17
Nov

FROM THE PUBLISHER – Community Futures Essex County Hits 30 Year Milestone

Whereas every issue of our magazine celebrates small businesses and organizations in the region, the annual awards edition actually rewards certain companies, non-profits, biz pros and events (read our cover story on page 18).

However, to become a success story a business owner needs access to counselling and financing. Let me fill you in now about a local non-profit organization — an “unconventional lender” offering loans to help start or grow a business.

Community Futures Essex County marked a major milestone recently to honour 30 years of fostering rural economic development, by supporting entrepreneurs and small-and medium-sized businesses.

Since 1995, Community Futures Essex County (CFEC) has invested more than $15 million to help over 247 businesses start, grow, and succeed. CFEC General Manager Diane Malenfant says this success wouldn’t be possible without strong community partnerships.

“It’s not just about us — it’s about all of us,” expresses Malenfant. “Our work is only possible because of the collaboration and referrals we receive from our municipal, banking, and business development partners. Together, we make sure entrepreneurs in Essex County have the support they need to thrive.”

Examples of the recent collaborative successes include: start-up financing for Hooper’s Lawn Care with the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre; financing in partnership with CIBC for the Hideout Bar & Grill expansion in LaSalle; a local innovator supported jointly by WEtech Alliance who secured funding to attend international trade shows, critical to product commercialization; and the large-scale Iron Kettle project in Comber, where CFEC contributed the final piece of financing to complete a $1.7-million investment supported by BDC and Desjardins Credit Union.

Community Futures Essex County (see the volunteer Board of Directors here) is part of a national network of 267 Community Futures organizations across Canada, created by the Government of Canada 40 years ago to support local economic development through community-led decision-making.

Funded through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), CFEC is located at 39 Maidstone Avenue East in Essex. .

“Here’s to the entrepreneurs we serve, to the partners who stand with us, and to the next chapter of growth in the region,” Malenfant concludes!

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Deborah Jones

Deborah Jones – Publisher of Biz X Magazine Deborah Jones graduated from the University of Windsor with an Honours Degree in Communication Studies and was employed at two other local magazines shortly after for a few years learning all she could about writing, advertising, public relations and more. She made the jump in 1998 to go out on her own to publish Biz X magazine and has worked in the publishing industry since 1990. In 2007, she earned the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce. To date, she is the ONLY woman so far to receive this award. In 2013, she received one of the first “Windsor Women of the Year” awards from the Ladies Exclusive Alliance. Her most recent achievement is the 2023 Media Award from the Windsor Essex Chapter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Deborah is proud to live in Windsor and truly cares about each and every business and strives to make Windsor Essex the best place to live, work and play.