EODP Funding: Hurrying up after waiting a long time

Jeff Green | Nov 03, 2011

Anne Prichard, the executive director of the Frontenac Community Development Corporation (FCFDC), has been walking on egg shells all summer. While the corporation has continued to offer its core services this year, including providing advice and help with business plans as well as financing for business ventures in Frontenac County, it has been waiting for the next phase of the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) to come through to enable the FCFDC to have a direct impact on the Frontenac County business community.

While funding for the $10 million program, which is divvied up between the 15 Community Futures Corporations in Eastern Ontario, has been guaranteed on a multi-year basis, the 2011 allotment has been waiting while Industry Canada worked to re-design the criteria for the program.

As it turns out, Prichard was on vacation in Thailand when the EODP funding announcement came through early this week, but she is back now and her agency is raring to go to bring funding for community innovation, collaborative, and business development projects.

A series of meetings are scheduled throughout the county next week (Monday on Wolfe Island, Wednesday in Sharbot Lake, Plevna and Sydenham, and Thursday in Arden) for businesses, not-for-profit corporations and municipalities to learn the details of the program. (see ad on page 5)

The first application deadline for proposals will follow only a few days later, on Monday, Nov. 14, but there will be application deadlines in December and the following months as well.

Information has been released at frontenaccfdc.com under the Services banner about the first round of applications, which will include the Community Innovation and Business Development Programs.

Not-for-Profit corporations are eligible for up to 100% grants, totaling a maximum of $100,000 and private businesses are eligible for 50% of costs, also up to a total of $100,000. Under the Community Innovation program, funding is available for community-based economic development projects, research projects, marketing and promotional activities, tourism events, export and trade initiatives, facilitation or hosting of seminars/workshops and small scale construction or projects/physical works.

Under the Business Development Program, funding is available for business plans/expansion plans, marketing strategies, feasibility studies, strategic plans, research and development initiatives, internship/job placement (12 months max), trade show attendance, incremental on the job training, business and trade opportunity development, marketing projects, innovation projects, knowledge-based economy studies and plans, innovative web enhancements, creation of new websites, e-commerce, e-learning platforms, GIS applications, customized software, telecommunications improvements, broadband and internet access.

Application criteria will be released next Monday, Nov. 7.

For further information, contact the FCFDC at 613-372-1414.