NEWS from the
FRONTENAC CFDC building business ~ growing communities
Spring 2019
About the Frontenac CFDC The Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) is a not-for-profit corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors and funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario (FedDev). Our mission is to stimulate community and economic development throughout the Frontenacs – aptly expressed by the tag line “building business … growing communities”. Whether you are considering starting a small business in the Frontenacs, seeking advice or financing for your existing business, or require assistance for your community project, we can help. The Frontenac CFDC offers: • Business information and counselling at no cost • Commercial loans • Community Economic Development The Frontenac CFDC board has identified “pivotal” areas of focus. Food and Beverage – To attract, grow and retain small scale artisanal) food and beverage businesses. Innovative Rural Opportunities - Foster and support businesses related to the creative economy, rural entrepreneurship and niche agribusiness. Promoting Businesses - Continue efforts in promoting local business (including farm businesses), supporting businesses in selfpromotion and to facilitate linkages and networking opportunities. Tourism - Encouraging and supporting efforts to expand and enhance tourism businesses, events and activities. Support year-round tourism and the modernization/upgrading of accommodations. Awareness of CFDC Services and Programs - Continue to promote awareness, understanding and support for CFDC services and programs provided to individuals, businesses and community groups. This includes keeping CFDC services “top of mind” for existing and past clients and “reaching out” to individuals who have not previously dealt with the CF. Other Frontenac CFDC programs and services include: Visit our website frontenaccfdc.com and make use of the online resources, business information and guides. Promote your business for FREE in our online directory or submit your business news for inclusion in our quarterly newsletter and /or social media to anne@frontenaccfdc.com. In the newsletter and on Facebook, we include news such as new business, new services or products being offered, business anniversaries, etc. Include a photo sized appropriate for Facebook. We also accept short videos for our You Tube site and these may include a general info piece about your business or a video on how you make your product. Receive our quarterly newsletter electronically by subscribing on our website to learn about local businesses, funding opportunities, upcoming events and more. Visit our Blog by going to our website Futurpreneur Canada supports young entrepreneurs with up to $45,000 in financing and an expert business-mentor for up to two years.
Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation 5062 Rd 38, Harrowsmith, Ontario 613-372-1414, TF 1-888-372-9962 www.frontenaccfdc.com
“Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for business tips, information and events and to learn about other businesses in the area. Or check out the local businesses on our You Tube. This project is funded by the Government of Canada. Ce projet est financé par le Gouvernement du Canada.
FRONTENAC
Community Futures Development Corporation Building business – growing communities
Money, Money, Money…
in my dreams I have a plan… all the things that I could do, if I had a (lot of) money
(credit ABBA)
The Frontenac CFDC would like to help you with those dreams. The Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) that many of you are familiar with has drawn to a close. However, we anticipate a new (yet to be named) program will be launched April 1st (no fooling!). Check our website, Facebook, Twitter and/or LinkedIn as we will post the details as soon as they become available. We will also host information sessions and we will post the dates for those as well. What we can tell you at this time is that this program is geared to federal government priorities • Advanced Manufacturing, • Agri-food • Digital Technologies • Clean Tech This is not to say they will not fund other sectors and we will work with you to build a case. Another detail we know at this time is the scale of the projects. The minimum size project will be $50,000 with a 50% ($25,000) federal contribution for eligible projects. The maximum size will be $200,000 with a 50% ($100,000) contribution. We may be able to assist you with your 50% of costs through our loan program. If you are in the agrifood and perhaps the clean tech sector, you may also be eligible to have some of the costs covered by the Canada Agricultural Partnership (see below) This program is being offered for 2019/20 and 2020/21 fiscal years. Businesses based in the County of Frontenac will be eligible to apply to Frontenac CFDC for funding. There will also be another stream of funding for businesses in Eastern Ontario (including Kingston) that can demonstrate a regional impact. Our funder, Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario (FedDev) announced three funding streams in December 2018- Business Scale Up and Productivity, Regional Innovation Systems and Community Economic Development. To explore these funding opportunities, visit www.feddevontario.gc.ca. Funding for Farmers, Processors & Other Businesses The Canada Agricultural Partnership (CAP) is a new fiveyear commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that will support Canada’s “agri-food and agri-products” sectors. A webinar is being held April 2nd from 10 am to 11:30 am to learn more about the funding. To register visit https:// bit.ly/2TT19NU
This cost-share funding will support projects in the following priority areas, with research and innovation continuing to be a focus. • Economic development in the agri-food and agri-products sectors • Environment stewardship to enhance water quality and soil health • Protection and assurance to reinforce the foundation for public trust in the sector through improved assurance systems in food safety and plan and animal health Farmers and Other Businesses (plant health) The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) administers the funding. Program details, including how to apply, program guides and application forms can be found on their website. A targeted application intake is open until May 6, 2019 to apply for cost-share funding to help offset the cost of testing for DON corn. ontarioprogramguides.net/pc-en-phim-dn-h. Processors and Other Businesses The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs administers the funding to processors and other businesses (animal health, commercializers, and primary agrifood businesses). Program details, including how to apply, program guides, and application forms are available online and the intake is open until May 6, 2019. processors http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cap/ processors.htm and other businesses http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ cap/otherbusinesses.htm or by calling OMAFRA at 1-877424-1300 Sector Organizations and Collaborations – the intake for eligible sector organizations and collaborations has passed. The province is currently finalizing the next application intake. When we learn the dates, we will post on our social media. ■
Save the date Tuesday, June 25th
Frontenac CFDC’s AGM Celebrating 15 years!
Looking for Financing?
FRONTENAC
Community Futures Development Corporation Building business – growing communities
Whether you’re looking to get a business off the ground, expand an existing operation, or purchase equipment – we’ve got the loan to fit your needs. For more information or to obtain a loan application, visit www.frontenaccfdc.com or call 1-888-372-9962
For more on our services visit www.frontenaccfdc.com
Proudly Made
Are you proud to make stuff in Frontenac? Consumers want to buy locally made goods, but with so much variety on the shelf, it can be difficult to figure out where stuff comes from. These tags make it easy for people to identify and buy local. Tags come in two styles: rectangular and square, and they’re equipped with a thin elastic, perfect for attaching to products with a handle or another tag. Stickers are available in clear with white writing (great for dark packaging), and green with white writing. Email Alison at Frontenac County to get your free Made in Frontenac product tags and/or stickers avandervelde@frontenaccounty.ca ■
Interested In Participating In Open Farms 2019? Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 8 for Open Farms in Frontenac! If you’re at all interested in participating as a farm location or a vendor at someone else’s farm, email Alison: avandervelde@frontenaccounty.ca. During last year’s Open Farms, seven farm locations welcomed hundreds of visitors for a “behind the scenes” look at small scale agriculture operations. New in 2019, the Frontenac Plowing Match will be held in conjunction with Open Farms. New farm locations are welcome, and we anticipate even more visitors will participate this year. ■
September 8, 2019
Interested in Agricultural Innovation? Agri-Tech Meet Up is being held April 4 from 5 – 6:30 pm at the Signal Brewery, 86 River Road, Belleville. Mingle with like minded people in the agri-tech industry and hear a presentation from owner of Potter Settlement Winery on agriculture in Hastings County. Hosted by Hastings County, QuinteVation and Harvest Hastings, this event is open to businesses in Frontenac. To register visit https:// bit.ly/2OeXMvB
Maple Weekend Sweet Ontario The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association will be hosting their 4th annual Maple Weekend, April 6 & 7. Mel Conboy, Oso Sweet and his cousin George Conboy are the only Frontenac producers that we are aware of participating in this event. The find out more information on how you can join in the fun, visit https://mapleweekend.ca/
Interested In Becoming A Frontenac Cfdc Board Member? Residents and/or business owners within the County of Frontenac are eligible to apply to become a director. Candidates ideally have • An interest in local and regional community and business development • Knowledge of Frontenac County in general and perhaps an understanding of a specific business sector If you are interested in becoming a volunteer board member of the Frontenac CFDC, or would like more information, contact Anne Prichard, Executive Director, at 613-372-1414 Ext 204.
FRONTENAC
Community Futures Development Corporation building business – growing communities
Congratulations! Congratulations to Jeni Juranics on the opening of her new business, Hawk Moon Healing Arts located on Sydenham Road. It is the meeting place of Psychic Medium, Tarot Reader & Reiki Master Jeni Juranics and her services. You will also find, yoga, meditation, events, workshops and classes centered around spirituality and self development. The studio space offers a small retail section with locally made items for the body and home as well as crystals and unique metaphysical gifts and art. Hawk Moon is also available for hourly, half and full day rentals and the space can easily be transformed to fit your vision for your next event or workshop. Visit the website for more information: www.hawkmoonhealing.com and follow along on Facebook and Instagram @hawkmoonhealing Congratulations to Allison Montgomery, Back to Health Massage Therapy Clinic on their 4th year of providing health care in South Frontenac. Back to Health is also pleased to announce they now have 2 Registered Therapists (RMT’s), Allison and Alexandra, who are always looking for ways to help their community stay healthy and pain free. Back to Health specializes in pain management including manual therapy, therapeutic ultrasound and cold laser therapy for a variety of conditions including headaches, carpal tunnel, tendinitis, sciatica and many more! For more information or to book an appointment call Allison: 613-353-1109 or email: back2healthrmt@ gmail.com or visit www.backtohealthrmt.com Congratulations to Cindy Murphy and her son Colin Murphy on the opening of Almost Home Café, 4917 Rd. 38, Harrowsmith. Almost Home Café opens at 6:00 am to offer their homemade breakfasts as well as offering lunches and suppers, all of which are takeout service Monday through Saturday. They also have a candy counter and scooped ice cream will be coming soon. Mayor Ron Vandewal will be doing the official ribbon cutting at the Grand Opening Saturday, April 13th at 10:00 a.m. Do you have business news that you would like to share in our next newsletter or on our social media? Email Anne@frontneaccfdc.com.
Rob & Nancy Moore, Owners, The Cardinal Café.
Coffee & Capital When Rob and Nancy Moore bought the Cardinal Café in the summer of 2016, they had dreams of turning their new, family run business into a thriving community space. With hard work and perseverance, that’s exactly what they have achieved. When the time came for infrastructure growth, they turned to the Frontenac CFDC for financial support. “We first met Anne when we needed a loan for a new piece of equipment. At the time we didn’t know they offered grants to qualifying small businesses in Eastern Ontario. Since that time, working with the FCFDC, we have received money through two different programs (Company Starter Plus program and the Eastern Ontario Development Program). This has been a game-changer for our business.” “It was easy working with them (CFDC) because there
was always someone available to answer any questions’ we had during the application process.” Says Moore, “They really made us feel confident that we could see the process through to the end and be rewarded.” “I highly recommend contacting the CFDC and tell them what your dream looks like. They can turn your vision into a reality” The Frontenac CFDC is a non-profit organization funded by FedDev Ontario offering free business advice, workshops, and commercial financing to entrepreneurs and those looking to start a business in the Frontenacs. To find out more about realizing your business dream, call the Frontenac CFDC at 613-372-1414, Toll Free at 1-888-372-9962 or info@frontenaccfdc.com
For a free business or loan consultation, call 1-888-372-9962
4 Factors Your Banker Will Consider Before Lending You Money Whether your plan is to start a business or expand your existing company, here are some key factors a banker is considering when asked for a business loan. 1. Your personal and professional profile The first thing a banker will be looking at is your character and previous business experience. The first impression counts for a lot. From dress and attitude to the way you present your project, the banker will be trying to assess your ability to manage the business. An updated CV underlining your skills and expertise related to the business should be on your check-list. 2. The viability of your project The first question the banker has to answer when looking at your business plan is: “How realistic is it?” The viability of your project will be assessed in terms of the strengths, the opportunities and the risks presented in your business plan, including financial forecasts, the management team’s experience and the marketing and sales strategy. You have to convince the banker that your business can become viable and that you are ready to take it there. 3. Your financial capacity Having a solid credit history says a lot about your trustworthiness and ability to run a successful, profitable business. A willingness to put a significant amount of money into your business will show your lender that you are committed to the project and willing to share the risk.* The banker will also need to know how you are going to use the money, when and how you are going to repay your small business loan and whether there’s any security that can be pledged against it such as equipment, buildings or personal property. It might take two or three meetings to sort everything out. 4. Your knowledge of the market and the competition The banker wants to see that you have built your plan based on a sound analysis that takes into account the market, the competition and the economic context. Do your own research and show that you know the trends, the opportunities and the risks. This boosts your credibility. A simple, concise presentation of facts and figures will back up your statements and business plan. The above is an excerpt from the BDC website https:// www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/money-finance/get-financing/pages/. Their site has a wealth of information in the articles and tools section. *At the CFDC, we understand you may not have much capital to invest in your business and we are still prepared to look at the deal. ■
Need funds to assist with your business start-up? Is your seasonal business creating cashflow concerns? Looking to expand your business? The Frontenac CFDC offers flexible commercial financing up to $250,000 for new or existing businesses in the County of Frontenac when financing from traditional lenders is not available or insufficient. For more information on loans or to discuss your business idea, please call 1-888-372-9962
FRONTENAC
Community Futures Development Corporation Building business – growing communities
Spotlight On Business
D & G Home Improvements Darrel Gerus has been running his contracting business, D&G Total Home Improvements, out of Arden, for the past ten years, but he has been working in the area for about 20 years, “D & G is a varied construction business. From general construction, yard landscaping and maintenance, to site preparation. We do everything,” said Darrell, in an interview from his home near Arden. Aside from working on construction jobs throughout Central Frontenac and beyond, Darrel, and his company, have been participating with the Friends of Arden in promoting the services and community activities in Arden and the surrounding lakes. And the Frontenac CFDC has been with him along the way, providing loans for equipment purchases when necessary, including a loan which enabled D&G to purchase a full-sized truck recently to add to the inventory of equipment that keeps D&G crews busy throughout the construction season. “For a contractor, a reliable truck is a must.! Being able to get to a job site in all weather conditions, be it pulling a trailer with supplies or a backhoe certainly benefits my company. “The CFDC has been really helpful. Sue Theriault at the office has been our contact and she’s been great to work with, as have the business officers in the office that we have dealt with over the years,” he said. With D&G, Darrel is committed to maintaining quality workmanship for all the jobs that the company takes on, and he runs a four-member crew in the construction season each year, employing a mixture of experienced carpenters and younger workers. “We are always looking for young workers who
Darrel Gerus, owner, D & G Home Improvements. want to make a start in said. the construction business. Having worked with a seThere are lots of opportu- ries of building inspectors nities in the market in the over the years, Darrel says skilled trades, including that what he appreciates carpentry, and one of the is consistency and clarity great things about running from the department. a company like D&G is that “They’ve generally been we can provide training in pretty good to work with a number of different work over the years,” he said. “It’s environments.” all part of the process. For With the contacts that us it goes along with beD&G has developed over ing fully licensed and fully the years, Darrel has been insured. We like to keep evmoving more into the role erything above board.” of a General Contractor. Transparency is key for “It’s taken me ten years Darrel, which is why he to assemble a group of ex- brings copies of all of his cellent, very professional, documentation with him sub-contractors to work the first time he meets with with. For new home con- a client to look at or quote struction, for example, we on a job. can sub-out jobs like the “Anyone with a hammer electrical and the plumbing and a pick-up truck can and roofing, and, with our call themselves a contracown crew and equipment, tor, but that does not mean it all adds up to a good way that the customer will get to build a house on sched- what they expect at the ule and with all the proper end of the day. In our case, warranties and insurance we take everything into acin place for customers,” he count when we quote on a
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job, and that includes making a profit. “What I like about the construction business is that it is a creative way to make a living, it is profitable, and the customer gets a good product that they can enjoy for a long time,” he said. Beyond that, Darrel also has a favourite kind of job. “I personally love doing fences and decking,” he said. “Even though there isn’t that much call for fencing in our region, we have all the equipment to do any kind of fence, even chain link fencing for commercial applications. But we do a lot of decks, of all shapes and sizes.” To contact D&G, phone 613-583-0146 or email ddaawg@outlook.com Article by Jeff Green, The Frontenac News ■
The Frontenac CFDC is using its Facebook to promote local entrepreneurs and their businesses. Email Anne (anne@frontenaccfdc.com) a photo of you at your business together with a sentence about your business and your website, Facebook and/or Twitter address(es) and we will post it to our Facebook.
For more on our services visit www.frontenaccfdc.com
Frontenac Agricultural News
Selling Food to Ontario – Part Two Tending to Vending: Scaling up Sustainability is being offered by OMAFRA April 2nd. This session will feature a food regulation expert panel, navigating opportunities, peer to peer business support and marketing your product for retail success. For more information, visit http://www.eastontlocalfood.com/selling-food-to-ontario-2019/ OMAFRA Food Bulletin - For information on the latest food and beverage manufacturing funding programs, consultations, regulations, events, training and more subscribe to the food bulletin by visiting http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/new/comm-bulletins-form.htm Farmers Markets - Would you like to try marketing your products through a farmers’ market? There are nine markets in the Kingston area, on five days of the week, open from 3 hours to full days. One market runs every other week. There are also varying vendor fees. Lots of options to choose from to suit your schedule. For information on the markets and whom to contact, visit www.nfulocal316.ca $500 Bursary for Frontenac Students! The Frontenac Federation of Agriculture is offering a $500 bursary to a Frontenac County high school graduate who will be furthering their post–secondary education in their chosen field within the agri-food industry. To qualify for this bursary, a student must be accepted into a postsecondary institution (college or university) program in fall of 2019, that could include any of these disciplines: agriculture, food, nutrition, culinary arts, agricultural commerce or marketing, veterinary, horticulture or food service. Want more information or to obtain an application , please email to Dudley Shannon , shanlake@kingston.net. Application deadline is June 1,2019. Spring Road safety tips from Frontenac Federation of Agriculture – It’s that time of year where you will see an increased presence of farm vehicles (tractors, towed implements etc.) on public roads. FFA would like to share some tips to ensure another safe spring for both farmers and the public! Safe Distance: Remember if you can’t see the equipment’s mirrors, the vehicle operator can’t see you! Where to drive: it is not illegal to drive farm vehicles on the shoulder of the road, you should always drive on the travelled portion of the road, as it is able to support the weight of the equipment. Farm vehicles must also yield ½ the road way to oncoming vehicles Slow Moving Vehicle Signs: Every farm tractor or self-propelled on the road MUST display a clearly visible Moving Vehicle Sign (SMV). Farm Equipment using a SMV sign must obey the 40km/h speed limit. Please visit https://ofa.on.ca/issues/transportation/ for more information and further details on this topic! Frontenac Federation of Agriculture represents over 320 farm families in Frontenac County! www.ofa.on.ca/federations/frontenac | Find us on Facebook: @FrontenacFederationofAgriculture.
Oso Sweet Maple Syrup Clayton Conboy grew up helping his Mom and Dad, Joyce and Mel, make maple syrup each spring. It was a labour-intensive effort, tromping out to the bush, gathering sap from holding tanks around their farm property on Bell Line Road, which is off the 509 north of Sharbot Lake, and hauling it to the evaporator to be boiled down into syrup. Clayton is now 31, and works in Ottawa, but he looks forward to coming home during syrup season. The family syrup operation, which is called Oso Sweet, a play on the former name of the township where their farm is located, has developed significantly over the years. All of the sap now flows from the bush into a central shed, thanks to a vacuum system. It goes through preliminary filtering, and is then pumped into a 2,800 gallon stainless steel tank that is housed in a new building. The sap then passes into a reverse osmosis machine, where, through the use of air pressure and microfiltration, the sugar content of the sap is tripled. The Conboys bring their sap to 7.5% sugar before sending it off to the wood fired evaporator where it is transformed to maple syrup, precisely 67% sugar. Even elements such as the barometric reading are taken into account. The finished syrup is filtered, graded as golden, amber, or dark and then bottled for sale. “The best syrup is made from the freshest sap, and with all that we’ve done over the years, when the sap is running well, we can process it into syrup pretty quickly,” said Mel Conboy, in an interview at the farm last Friday, a cool early spring day when the trees “weren’t really hurting themselves to run that much” as Clayton Conboy put it. The other advantage of the technology that the Conboys have put in place over the last ten years or so, is that instead of boiling well into the night when the sap is running hard, they can be finished and cleaned up by supper time.
“I’m 68,” said Mel, “I don’t need to work until midnight anymore.” Putting in the reverse osmosis machine cut the boiling time for syrup significantly, saving on wood and lessening the environmental impact of syrup production. But it was not just a matter of buying a machine. It required the construction of a new heated building, which took time and money. When the Conboys were ready to make the purchase, they applied for, and received, Mel, Joyce and Clayton Conboy, OSO Sweet Maple Syrup, OSO Sweet Maple Syrup. an Eastern Ontario Develfrom 3,000, and by expanding they can start to make more opment Program grant. With the cost of the reverse osmosis machine, the build- syrup than ever before. But nothing is simple. Even with auing and hydro upgrades, we were very appreciative of the tomation, syrup season is a busy time of year at the Conboy grant that we received from the Frontenac CFDC. It helped farm. Sap lines need to be checked, the sugar bush monifund a project that we had long dreamed of, covering about tored, and the technology has to work in harmony, one malfunction and the entire system is challenged. 10% of the cost. That was a big help,” said Joyce Conboy. “We love this time of year. It’s like a breath of fresh air afThe Conboys are planning still more upgrades, in a ter a long winter, and the end result is uniquely Canadian,” constant effort to create an efficient operation that prosaid Joyce. duces consistent, high quality maple syrup. Oso Sweet syrup is available at the farm gate at 2379 Bell They purchased a new finish filter machine this year, and Line Road, and in Ottawa through Clayton’s home store. in the long term would like to build on to the new buildCheck their website Ososweetmaple.ca. They are particiing to house their evaporator and bring their entire producpating in Maple Weekend on April 6 and 7 as well, one of tion into one space. As well, as they increase their capacity two Frontenac County locations, which are both located to process sap into syrup, they are looking at expanding by on the Bell Line Road. tapping some more of their maple. They are already producArticle by Jeff Green, The Frontenac News ■ ing as much syrup out of 1,600 taps as they used to produce
Ontario's artisan Food and Beverage (FAB) Region is an initiative with a goal of helping entrepreneurs live their dream of operating an artisanal food and beverage business. We devote this section of the newsletter to feature a local "FAB" business. If you are the owner of an artisan food or beverage business in the County of Frontenac and would like to be featured in an upcoming issue, contact Anne Prichard at 613-372-1414 ext 204. Check us out at www.farbregion.ca or Facebook @FABRegion.
For a free business or loan consultation, call 1-888-372-9962