Community Futures Peterborough Marks 40 Years of Fueling Local Business Success

Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) celebrated a major milestone today, 40 years of service and impact, during its Annual General Meeting held at its client, the scenic Farmhill Weddings in Keene. Surrounded by business leaders, elected officials, board members, entrepreneurs, and community partners, the organization celebrated four decades of empowering local businesses in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.

“Forty years of Community Futures Peterborough means 40 years of believing in entrepreneurs, fueling businesses, and strengthening our regional economy,” says Devon Girard, executive director of Community Futures Peterborough. “We’ve played a key role in helping thousands of local businesses start, grow, and thrive, and today, we are so proud to honour that legacy.”

During the event, Community Futures Peterborough announced it had received a record $4.6 million in loan applications in fiscal year 2024- 2025 and disbursed more than $1.38M to 26 local companies. Those new loans created or maintained more than 319 local jobs during their 2024-2025 fiscal year. Community Futures Peterborough is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

"For four decades, Community Futures Peterborough has been a driving force behind rural business growth—supporting bold entrepreneurs, creating local jobs and strengthening the region’s economy. Through FedDev Ontario, the Government of Canada is proud to invest in this legacy of rural leadership and innovation. These results speak for themselves: when we back rural communities with the right tools, they build the future,” said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

For more information regarding Community Futures Peterborough's services including financing, government funding, and small business advisory consulting visit Community Futures Peterborough.