What is Community Futures
The federally funded Community Futures program was established in 1986 by the Government of Canada in response to the economic and labour market changes faced by rural Canadian communities.
It is delivered in Canada through the network of Community Futures organizations. These organizations operate on a not-for-profit basis. Each is guided by volunteer Boards of Directors that are representative of the rural regions/communities that is served by the organization. Together with professional staff, these Community Futures Boards are actively engaged in helping to develop and implement community-based economic diversification and development strategies. In Alberta there are 27 Community Futures organizations.
These Community Futures organizations deliver the following community economic development services:
• Community Strategic Planning
• Socio-Economic Development
• Business Services
• Access to Capital (Maximum loan size $150,000.00)
Community Futures continues to be relevant 20 years later. A recent report on Community Futures indicates that:
” In the context of Canada’s 21st century economy, and in the era of fast changing economic development, Community Futures help communities adapt their economies to the new global environment.”
Truly, Community Futures is all about
“Growing communities one idea at a time”
About Rural Development
The Rural Development Strategy developed by Alberta is titled “ A Place to Grow”. The title, according to the Alberta government was chosen deliberately as “It (the Strategy) reflects traditional ties of rural Alberta to the land – to agriculture, ranching and farming. But it (the Strategy) also looks beyond those traditional ties to a future where rural Alberta is a place to grow new opportunities, new ideas, and new potential for the future.”
Rural development requires a long-term view, a willingness to think globally and act locally, and to do so in a strategic and collaborative fashion. Community Futures organizations play a key partner role in rural development. Our organizations work collaboratively with other community and provincial rural development organizations. As federally funded and community directed community economic development organizations, Community Futures provides a level of rural community economic development support and as required, leadership at the local level. Our 27 Community Futures organizations, through direction provided by local volunteer boards, do provide a unique set of rural community economic program supports to assist community and other key stakeholders to ensure that rural Alberta is a place of growth with new potential for the future.
To learn more about how Community Futures assist rural communities, contact your local Community Futures office. Click here.
Rural Community Economic Development Projects
The Rural Community Economic Development Project is a 3-year $2.1 million pilot project for rural community economic development project funding. It is part of the Western Economic Partnership Agreement called the Rural Community Economic Development Initiative that includes three components: the Rural CED Project Funds, CED Specialists, and funding for the Regional Economic Development Alliances. The vision for the Rural Economic Development Initiative is to provide enhanced CED support and leadership to rural communities and to foster increased collaboration between Community Futures and Regional Economic Development Alliances (REDAs).
Eligible projects must:
meet an identified need within a community/region in Alberta
have identifiable CED outcomes
be funded in part by other sources
be submitted by a CF office and supported by the local REDA
The rural CED project can be fund a proposal up to $50 000. All projects must be submitted through a Community Futures office. If you have a project that you feel could be eligible for RCED funding, please contact your local Community Futures office.