History

The national Community Futures (CF) program celebrates 25 years of success in rural Community Economic Development !

In 1985,CF was launched as part of the Canada Jobs Strategy. Community Futures remains a national program with overall program aim to:

 

  • Support to local rural communities and small and medium-sized enterprises in meeting their economic needs;
  • Help to rural communities to develop and implement long-term community strategic plans leading to the sustainable development of their local economies; and
  • The provision of support for the building of community capacity as a means of helping rural adapt to and manage change.

The aim of the CF Program in Western Canada is to:

 

  • Support Community Economic Development (CED);
  • Diversify the economy;
  • Support the creation and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises;
  • Maintain and create new employment; and
  • Maintain Canada's capacity to deliver business services to rural communities in Western Canada.

In 1995, the responsibility for Community Futures was transferred to Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). With core funding assistance provided by WD, the CF program is delivered through a network of 90 non-profit Community Futures organizations:

  • 34 in B.C.
  • 27 in Alberta
  • 13 in Saskatchewan
  • 16 in Manitoba

These are supported by four (4) provincial CF Associations including Community Futures Network of Alberta.

In western Canada, all 90 Community Futures organizations are actively engaged in activities designed to achieve the stated program aims.

Click here to see Community Futures Pan-West Annual Report for information.

Given the importance of small business to Canada's changing economy, one of the primary focuses of Community Futures is to foster entrepreneurial development by providing both financial and technical support to new and existing small businesses. CF organizations utilize their small business loan investment funds to achieve the strategic objectives established by their local Boards with inputs from the communities they serve.

For information on financial support services available to small and medium-sized enterprises in Alberta through any of the 27 Alberta Community Futures offices go to www.roadahead.biz