Press Release – Community Futures Essex County 30th Anniversary

Community Futures Essex County Celebrates 30 Years of Supporting Local Entrepreneurs

Essex County, ON — October 3, 2025 — Community Futures Essex County marked a major milestone recently with a celebration honouring 30 years of fostering rural economic development, by supporting entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized businesses to start, grow, and thrive.

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

“It’s not just about us—it’s about all of us,” said 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.”

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (SBEC) is one of the local partners who is proud to collaborate with Community Futures Essex County to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across the region.

“Community Futures Essex County has been a vital partner in fostering entrepreneurship across our region,” said Sabrina DeMarco, Executive Director of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre. “We are pleased to celebrate this milestone with CFEC and look forward to continuing our collaboration to empower local entrepreneurs and strengthen Essex County’s economy.”

The celebration, held with local leaders and partners highlighted the impact of collaboration in business development. Notable guests included Joe Bachetti, Deputy Warden of Essex County, and several local mayors and municipal representatives.

Examples of recent collaborative successes shared during the event included:

• Hooper’s Lawn Care, referred by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, which received start-up financing and has since grown into a thriving business.
• A local innovator supported jointly by WETech Alliance and Community Futures, who secured funding to attend international trade shows critical to product commercialization.
• The Hideout Bar & Grill in LaSalle, which received financing in partnership with CIBC to expand its business with a new takeout ice cream window.
• The large-scale Iron Kettle project in Comber, where Community Futures contributed the final piece of financing to complete a $1.7-million investment supported by BDC and Desjardins Credit Union.

Along with celebrating three decades of impact, the organization also shared recent achievements, including the launch of its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and becoming CyberSecure Canada Certified—a national standard for cybersecurity that only a handful of small organizations have achieved.

Board Chair Amy Kendall joined Malenfant in thanking staff, volunteer board of directors, and partners for their dedication.

Community Futures Essex County is part of a national network of 267 Community Futures organizations across Canada, including 60 in Ontario, created by the federal government 40 years ago to support local economic development through community-led decision-making.

“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 concluded.

About Community Futures Essex County
Community Futures Essex County is a non-profit organization that provides business financing, advice, and support to entrepreneurs across Essex County. Guided by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by dedicated staff, the organization helps strengthen the local economy by fostering entrepreneurship and supporting community development.

Community Futures Essex County is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

About FedDev Ontario
For 16 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impact the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.

Media Contact:
Diane Malenfant
General Manager
Community Futures Essex County
519-791-4611
diane@cfessexcounty.ca
cfessexcounty.ca