What is Community Futures?
Community Futures (CF) is a program, funded in western Canada by Western Economic Diversification. Community Futures are non-profit organizations, guided by volunteer board of directors and staffed with business professionals. Together community volunteers and staff are actively engaged in helping to develop and implement community-based economic development and diversification strategies. These strategies result in the growth within our rural communities; one idea at a time.
Core services/supports provided by Community Futures include:
- Access to Capital - Community Futures organizations (CFs) are developmental lenders. Priority is given to viable business ideas that result in wealth generation for the business and economic diversification for the community or region. CFs may invest in qualified business projects to a maximum of $150,000.00. Terms and borrowing rates are competitive and tied to cash flow of the business.
For more information, contact your local Community Futures office.
- Business Services - CFs provide a wide range of one-on-one and workshop type services to businesses.
For more information, contact your local Community Futures office.
- Strategic Community Planning & Support -For rural communities to continue to compete in our fast changing world full of economic uncertainties, there is a need for these communities to adopt new economic development strategies. These strategies must be intentional or focused and sufficiently flexible to allow the community to adapt to capture new opportunities presented by a market place that is truly global. Community Futures organizations provide essential community support and at times community strategic planning leadership. Additionally, all Alberta CFs have access to special project funding designed to assist communities to successfully implement identified economic diversification strategies.
For more information, contact your local Community Futures office.
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Community Futures organizations have had a positive impact on rural Alberta for 20 years. We are proactive and progressive community organizations dedicated to strengthening both their community's entrepreneurs and their community's economy as a whole. Rural diversification is promoted by Alberta Community Futures organizations as a key to rural development.
