Southwestern Ontario Community Adjustment Fund Presentation Date: October 23, 2009

1. Southwestern Ontario Community Adjustment Fund Presentation Date: October 23, 2009

2. About Venture Niagara • Venture Niagara is a not-for-profit Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC). • Venture Niagara is one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in Ontario. • Funded by the federal government through Industry Canada / FedDev Ontario. • FedDev Ontario is the recently formed federal economic development agency for Southern Ontario www.southernontario.gc.ca

3. Services Venture Niagara provides services in the following areas: • Small business financing • Business advisory services • Community economic development

4. Venture Niagara Service Area Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Thorold and Welland

5. Southwestern Ontario Community Adjustment Fund

6. The Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) made the following announcement August 31, 2009 “Southern Ontario's 37 CFDCs will receive $30 million from the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in the current year. This funding is part of the $350 million that the CAF will receive over two years for projects in Ontario. The new measures will increase access to capital and business support for rural SMEs by enhancing products and services offered by Ontario CFDCs”.

7. FedDev Ontario staff worked diligently to assemble the details to enable southern Ontario CFDC’s including Venture Niagara, to offer the program to businesses and not-for profit groups in their communities. • Venture Niagara’s public launch of the Southwestern Ontario Community Adjustment Fund was Friday October 16th, 2009. • This launch included media releases to all Niagara newspapers and radio stations; email distribution to over 400 contacts; and newspaper advertisements.

8. Southwestern Ontario CAF Flow of Funds • Funding to Venture Niagara is pending and will be distributed to the corporation by FedDev Ontario. • Funds will be provided to businesses and not-for profit organizations by Venture Niagara. The flow of funds will be outlined in an agreement upon approval of your application.

9. Fund Details A total of $450,000 is available and to be spent before March 31, 2010 Allocation by category Business Development: $100,000 Internships: $200,000 Skills Development: $80,000 Community Capacity: $45,000 Local Initiatives: $25,000

10. Allocation by project • Business Development (up to $5,000 per recipient) • Internships -Youth and non-youth (up to $2,500 per month) • Skills Development (up to $5,000 per employee) • Community Capacity (not to exceed $25,000) • Local Initiatives (up to $10,000 for non-profit organizations)  Projects must be completed before March 31, 2010!

11. Important Considerations Various CAF categories will have proportions of expenses that successful applicants are responsible for in order to access CAF funds. (i.e. businesses are required to pay 50% for interns wages and related expenses. For more details, see eligible activities and expenses for each category). There will be no reimbursements for GST expenses. Expenditures incurred prior to signing a contract with Venture Niagara are not eligible. Guidelines and application forms for each category are specific to that category. Details are available on www.ventureniagara.com

12. How to Apply Applications are currently available on-line at ventureniagara.com or can be picked up at Venture Niagara, 20 Pine Street North, Thorold. Call or meet with staff (you are advised to make an appointment ahead of time to ensure staff is available). Please contact Frank Rupcic or Susan Morin at 905-680-8085. Application Deadline: 4 p.m. Friday October 30, 2009 Submit applications electronically or hard copy by mail or delivered to Venture Niagara

13. Once we have received the application • Staff will prepare all applications for Venture Niagara’s, CAF committee for review/approval. • Approved or not, you will be advisedof the statusby email or mail. • If approved, an offer outlining the conditions and reporting requirements will be provided. • The names of approved projects will be posted on www.ventureniagara.com • If funds are not allocated, subsequent intakes dates will be posted on www.ventureniagara.com

14. Element Guidelines Purpose Eligible Recipients Eligible Activities Eligible Costs

15. Element Guidelines Business Development up to $5,000 per recipient out of $100,000. Purpose: To support initiatives which lead to the growth of new and existing businesses within the municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Welland. Eligible Recipients: Non-profit organizations (including municipalities, municipal organizations, corporations, community development organizations, and associations); Legal commercial entities including individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives or trusts; Aboriginal organizations; and groups or alliances of those described above where a lead recipient has been identified. Eligible Activities: Eligible Activities may include but are not limited to:research; business plan and marketing plan development; development of export plans and activities; feasibility studies; research & development initiatives; strategic plans; trade show attendance; and, other activities designed to stimulate business opportunities. Eligible Costs for Recipients for Business Development Projects will normally be up to a maximum of $5,000 per recipient. Not-for Profit organizations will receive up to 100% funding of Eligible Costs while For-Profit companies will not normally exceed 90% of the total Eligible Costs. Expenses incurred after March 31, 2010, will be not eligible for payment.

16. Element Guidelines Internships (Youth and Non-Youth)up to $2,500 per month out of $200,000. Purpose of Internships: To provide valuable work experience and support the employment of Interns* within Venture Niagara Community Futures Development Corporation service area including the municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Thorold and Welland. Eligible Recipients: Non-profit organizations (including municipalities, municipal organizations, corporations, community development organizations, and associations); Legal commercial entities including individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives or trusts; Aboriginal organizations; and groups or alliances of those described above where a lead recipient has been identified. Eligible Activities: Eligible Activities are those directly related to the employment of Interns*, normally in one or more of the following business and/or community development activities: economic, tourism and/or business development; business and trade opportunity development; strategic planning, feasibility and marketing studies; marketing projects; research and analysis; training programs; and technological innovation including commercialization of new technologies.

17. Element Guidelines Internships - Youth and Non-Youth (cont’d) Eligible Costs: Not-for-Profit recipients may be up to 100% of total Eligible Costs and will not normally exceed a maximum monthly contribution of $2,500, until March 31, 2010, towards wages, benefits and related incremental project costs. Private Sector recipients may be up to 50% of total Eligible Costs and will not normally exceed a maximum monthly contribution of $2,500, until March 31, 2010, towards wages, benefits and related incremental project costs.

18. Element Guidelines Skills Development up to $5,000 per employee out of $80,000. Purpose: To support community-based initiatives which support the development of the labour force that will meet the needs of the business community, encourage new local entrepreneurs and attract external investment within the CFDC’s services area. Eligible Recipients: Non-profit organizations (including municipalities, municipal organizations, corporations, community development organizations, and associations); Legal commercial entities including individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives or trusts; Aboriginal organizations; and, Groups or alliances of those described above where a lead recipient has been identified. Eligible Activities: Eligible Activities may include but are not limited to: on-the-job training; in-house or outsourced classroom training; business management skills development; network management training; workshops and seminars.

19. Element Guidelines Skills Development – (cont’d) Eligible Costs: are expenses that will be incurred by the Recipient, which in the opinion of the Minister’s Representative is reasonable, incremental and required to carry out the Eligible Activities specified in this Schedule, including but not limited to: trainer and trainee wages and benefits; travel expenses; software, textbooks, manuals etc. directly related to the skill training; registration fees course purchases; professional fees; certification fees; and, other costs directly related to the approved Eligible Activities. Eligible Costs for Not-for-Profit Recipients may be up to 100% of total Eligible Costs. Eligible Costs for Private Sector Recipients will normally be up to 50% of total Eligible Costs. The maximum contribution with respect to any one employee will normally not exceed $5,000.

20. Element Guidelines Community Capacity Building not to exceed $25,000 out of $45,000. Purpose: To support strategic projects which enhance the community capacity for community economic development and diversification within Venture Niagara Community Futures Development Corporation service area including the municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Thorold and Welland. Eligible Recipients: Non-profit organizations (including municipalities, municipal organizations, corporations, community development organizations, and associations); Aboriginal organizations; and, Groups or alliances of those described above where a lead recipient has been identified. Eligible Activities: Eligible Activities are project activities that: support community-based initiatives which stimulate business and community development opportunities, promote socio-economic development leading to a competitive and diversified regional economy, contribute to the successful development of business and job opportunities and sustainable self-reliant communities; demonstrate broad support from the respective community; and offer sustainable and measurable economic benefits to the local and/or regional economy.

21. Element Guidelines Community Capacity Building - (cont’d) Eligible Costs: are expenses that will be incurred by the Recipient, which in the opinion of the Minister’s Representative are reasonable, incremental and required to carry out the eligible activities specified in this schedule, including but not limited to: consulting and professional fees; marketing and advertising costs; travel; equipment; and other costs directly related to the approved Eligible Activities. Eligible Costs for Recipients may be up to 100% of total eligible costs and will not exceed $25,000 per project. Expenses incurred after March 31, 2010, will be not eligible for payment.

22. Element Guidelines Local initiative funding up to $10,000 for non-profit organizations out of $25,000. Purpose: To support local community-based initiatives which enhance the community capacity for community economic development and diversification within Venture Niagara’s service area of the municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Thorold and Welland. Eligible Recipients: Non-profit organizations (including municipalities, municipal organizations, corporations, community development organizations, and associations); Aboriginal organizations; and, Groups or alliances of those described above where a lead recipient has been identified. Eligible Activities: Eligible Activities may include but are not limited to: community-based economic development projects; research projects; marketing and promotional activities; tourism events; export and trade initiatives; facilitate or host seminars/workshops, small scale capital projects; and, other costs directly related to the approved Eligible Activities.

23. Element Guidelines Local initiative funding- (cont’d) Eligible Costs: Eligible costs are expenses that will be incurred by the Recipient, which in the opinion of the Minister’s Representative are reasonable, incremental and required to carry out the Eligible Activities specified in this Schedule, including but not limited to; consulting and professional fees; marketing and advertising costs; travel; and equipment. Eligible Costs for Recipients may be up to 100% of total Eligible Costs and will not normally exceed $10,000 per project. Expenses incurred after March 31, 2010, will be not eligible for payment.

24. Assessment Process Venture Niagara’s volunteer board of directors will be reviewing the applications and making the final decisions on any approvals. Reviews will likely be started within a week of application deadline. General review criteria will consider how the application will create new jobs, maintenance of existing positions, enhancing skills and create an environment that will help new and existing companies to prosper. Since this is the first time that Venture Niagara has delivered this type of program, we anticipate A high level of interest and expect many of the categories to be competitive. As such, the review committee will be looking for applications with the greatest job creation and economic impact on the local economy.

25. Reporting The reporting process is currently in development and periodic submissions will be required for any company or not-for profit organizations receiving funds. These reports are required so that Venture Niagara can provide advanced payments, interim payments and hold back payments throughout the duration of the contract. As this is the first year for this program FedDev Ontario has indicated that the level of audits will be high to ensure proper use of federal government funds.

26. Questions & Answers