“In a fast growing competitive industry, we are forever grateful to Community Futures for support to our enterprise. It has fast tracked us many years in what I plan to achieve, and has allowed us to get to the next level and become a major player in a competitive market. Thank you for everything.”
Logan Krupa, Co-Owner/Brew Master, Bancroft Brewing Company

The Bancroft Brewing Company will benefit from an investment announced April 10, 2018 by Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin (CFDC), and Mike Bossio, Member of Parliament for Hastings−Lennox and Addington.

 The CFDC of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin is pleased to provide support for the expansion of a craft beer brewery with an investment of $86,700 under the Eastern Ontario Development Program’s Business Development stream. Through this investment, the Bancroft Brewing Company has expanded its manufacturing facility, purchased of a state-of-the-art automated control system and additional equipment to double brewing capacity and expand the product line. This expansion has been instrumental in sustaining five jobs and is projected to create two to three new full- time jobs in the near future.

Although brewing is one of Canada’s oldest industries, the Bancroft Brewing Company is the first establishment to commercially produce beer and spirits in Bancroft. The company is positioned to capitalize on the recent resurgence of the craft beer market and the business has become a desirable destination in the region.

Coloured Aggregates in Marmora Receives  Eastern Ontario Development Program Support

“We would like to thank Community Futures for their support through the EODP to expand our Marmora plant. This project has enabled us to grow our product line allowing us to access previously untapped global markets.”
Jeff Oravecz, Owner, Coloured Aggregates

Coloured Aggregates will benefit from an investment announced today by Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin (CFDC), and Mike Bossio, Member of Parliament for Hastings−Lennox and Addington.

For 45 years, Coloured Aggregates, a family-run business, has served a wide range of professionals in the pre-cast, architectural block, concrete ready-mix, paving, roofing and pole industries, to name just a few. The company, which houses a state-of-the-art onsite lab, continues to quarry, supply, and distribute an impressive range of colours, shades and mineral types of crushed aggregates and sand.

The CFDC of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin is pleased to provide support with an investment of $100,000 under the Eastern Ontario Development Program’s Business Development stream. Through this investment, Coloured Aggregates will expand its services and production at its world-class processing plant in Marmora. The funding will support the purchase of a computerized sorting system that will allow for the creation of new and improved products to reach new and existing markets. The development of the new product line will strengthen and maintain six jobs and create two new full-time jobs. The project will have a beneficial spin-off effect as the company hired local contractors for the construction and installation of the brand new production line.

 “Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” Demosthenes, Statesman & Orator, Ancient Greece.

Hidden Goldmine Bakery, owned by Cheryl and Brad Freeman, established in 2004, demonstrates this approach. The Hidden Goldmine Bakery was honoured earlier this fall with the Members' Choice Award at the annual Awards Gala dinner of Community Futures Ontario. Cheryl's grandmother's brown sugar fudge recipe was the first stepping stone of evolution for this small business, which has continued to steadily grow over the past 12 years. The original Hidden Goldmine Fudge Nugget not only aligns with the history of their area (the first gold mine in Ontario) but it was immediately identified that this style of baking triggered a "just like Grandma used to make" memory for their customers and that selling this product, and the resulting nostalgic experience, was a winning idea.

This is a true grassroots story. Cheryl and her daughters would sell their baking at craft sales and fairs within their local communities. It's from these humble beginnings the Freemans created a small bakery (just 400 square feet) that was built onto their family home in 2007. No doubt, many of you local readers will recall visiting the bakery in those early days and the warmth associated with being welcomed into their home, literally.

Bancroft North Hastings Heritage Museum establishes Genealogy Research Centre

Federal Investment of $3,000 to Increase Visitors and Create One Part-Time Job

August 3, 2017 Bancroft

LOCAL INITIATIVES PROGRAM FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT.
The Bancroft North Hastings Heritage Museum will benefit from an investment announced today by the Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin and Mike Bossio, Member of Parliament for Hastings−Lennox and Addington.

The CFDC of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin is pleased to provide support to the Bancroft North Hastings Heritage Museum with an investment of $3,000 through the Community Futures Program. The funding will support the establishment of a Genealogy Research Centre. The new Centre is an important part of the Museum’s expanding programs and offerings, which will result in an increase in the number of visitors and one part-time job.

People of all ages are participating in retrieving historical data associated with their families. If you have ever wondered about your ancestors, you will now be able to research your family tree at the new Genealogy Research Centre with the assistance of staff and volunteers at the Bancroft North Hastings Heritage Museum.

The Bancroft Museum offers many documents, photos and artifacts which can be used in these searches. This generous contribution from the CFDC will allow the Museum to combine the historical information now housed locally with the opportunities offered online. With the addition of computer equipment, genealogy resources will be available to the public, including searches by surname, historical persons, obituaries and historical collections such as vital records, census and military records and family searches.

   Adding Value to Your Waterfront Property

“Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship. The act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.” says Peter Drucker, "the founder of modern management."

Cottage Docks Inc., established 2003, demonstrates this innovation. Constantly creative & innovative, their main objective is to provide a dock system that is specific to your needs and that adds to the value of your property
by providing high quality waterfront products such as boat lifts, docks and accessories.

Cottage Docks Inc. has been a client of Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin (CFDC) since 2012. In 2015, Cottage Docks Inc. owner, James Train saw an opportunity in the market for a better option for docking personal watercraft. The existing norm was to simply tie the watercraft off to the side of the dock. Train worked to develop a better solution.

Cottage Docks Inc. Offers Innovative Docking Solution for Personal Water Craft Owners

Train developed a new product that becomes part of the existing docking system that protects the watercraft and rider when leaving or docking. He created a floating dry dock system that you just drive on and roll off that attaches and blends into your existing floating dock. With the support of CFDC who provided advice and financing including a non-repayable contribution through the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP), Cottage Docks Inc. was successful in taking a product idea from concept to production and to market. Cottage Docks Inc. offers a great system for docking of the Personal Water Craft (PWC) Port. Jim Etmanski, CFDC Chair, says that “Innovation and job creation are alive and well in North Hastings. This project is just what we are looking for in support of business expansion into new markets through innovation.”