MP Pierre Lemieux Announces Support for Francophone Entrepreneurs

ALFRED, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 14, 2015) - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

Today, Pierre Lemieux, Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell on behalf of FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear, announced up to $1,184,665 to support Francophone entrepreneurs in eastern Ontario.

The Harper Government, under FedDev Ontario's Economic Development Initiative (EDI), is investing up to $934,665 in the Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation. The funding will allow for the delivery of a coordinated entrepreneurship and business development program with the Entrepreneurial Academy of Prescott-Russell for Francophones in eastern Ontario.

The Entrepreneurial Academy of Prescott-Russell will also receive up to $250,000 through the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) Collaborative Projects stream to support the development and growth of key economic sectors in eastern Ontario.

The PRCDC will coordinate the project activities, business counselling, training and mentorship components. The Entrepreneurial Academy of Prescott-Russell will assist in the management of the project and its network of entrepreneurs will offer mentorship and training services.

These important investments will support the needs of entrepreneurs by providing business counselling, mentorship and training activities, and access to capital to implement business ideas.

Quick Facts

• This project is expected to increase the success rate of business start-ups, the return of young entrepreneurs and the arrival of new entrepreneurs in rural eastern Ontario.
• The EODP is a $48-million economic development initiative that promotes economic development in rural eastern Ontario by contributing to the development of businesses and communities.
• Through the EDI, FedDev Ontario will invest up to $4 million in funding from 2013-2018 to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, partnerships, and the diversification of economic activities in official language minority communities.

Quotes

"Our Government is focused on creating jobs and opportunities for Francophones in eastern Ontario. Today's investments in Prescott-Russell will create jobs for Francophones in the region and will provide the business tools they need to succeed."

- Pierre Lemieux, Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell

"The financial contributions announced today in Prescott-Russell show yet again the Government of Canada's firm commitment to remaining focused on the economy, jobs and prosperity in eastern and southern Ontario communities. The Government's concrete support for the Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation (CDC) is again today giving momentum to the creation of sustainable jobs. In helping our francophone businesses and entrepreneurs, we are solidifying the economic growth and prosperous development of official language minority communities."

- Sylvain Charlebois, President of Prescott-Russell -Community Development Corporation

"In obtaining a grant for training, coaching and mentoring services, our organization is proud to have the privilege of working in partnership with the Prescott-Russell CDC for the economic growth of French-language entrepreneurs and businesses in eastern Ontario."

-Denis Charlebois, President of the Entrepreneurial Academy of Prescott Russell

"We are excited about the creation of an entrepreneurial nucleus in this region that motivates and supports companies, industries and organizations in the development of new opportunities and the creation of new groups of economic visionaries. We are pleased to be a supporter of this initiative in eastern Ontario. The Entrepreneurial Academy of Prescott-Russell supports an underserved bilingual business sector with affordable access to market intelligence data, mentors and training which would otherwise be out of reach to new entrepreneurs."

- Carol Armstrong, Executive Director, Eastern Ontario CFDC Network

Related Products

Speech: EDI/EODP Funding Announcement for Prescott Russell

Backgrounder: EDI/EOPD Funding Announcement for Prescott Russell

Associated Links

Economic Development Initiative

Eastern Ontario Development Program

Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages 2013-2018

Entrepreneurial Academy of Prescott Russell

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