Community Futures Changes Names to ACCFutures

Cornwall Ontario – One of the region’s long standing business support organizations has a new name. The Cornwall & The Counties Community Futures Development Corporation will now be known as ACCFutures.

Since its formation in 1987, the community economic development organization has grown and evolved to meet the needs of the communities it serves. In 2002, it became part of the Community Futures network and was commonly referred to locally as the “CFDC” or simply “Community Futures.” With the vision for a stronger economy and community, the organization felt the time was right to rebrand to better reflect each area it serves: The Akwesasne First Nation, The City of Cornwall, and The Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. As part of this vision, the CFDC developed a brand to reflect their commitment to true reconciliation and economic partnership projects that benefit both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

“This name change holds a lot of significance for the Board and the team,” says Lesley Thompson, Executive Director.  “It is an outward representation of our commitment to this community and to reconciliation. We plan to leverage these changes to advance our mission and vision for a greater ACC region.”

Today, the work of ACCFutures has expanded beyond the scope of its core Federal funding. In addition to providing business owners with advice, referrals and flexible funding solutions, it is a go-to solution for delivering community economic development supports, and much more with:

• the delivery of technology adoption and implementation services
• the project management of The Port Lands
• the production of Indigenous community engagement guides
• the delivery of cultural sensitivity and awareness training
• and services to support a thriving Indigenous workforce

Beneath the ACCFutures main brand will stand two sub-brands. The Cross Border Partnership Program has now become ACCPathways which creates “More Potential Together”, and the Technology Innovation Program, now named ACCInnovation which helps “Accelerate Your Potential”.

Over the coming months, the ACCFutures team will be busy implementing the new name and brand. They will transition by way of a phased approach, allowing for community and stakeholder-wide communications to take hold, eventually leading to an entirely new website by end of summer.

About ACCFutures

ACCFutures, through funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (Fed Dev Ontario) delivers a wide variety of programs and services to support community economic development and small business growth. It employs local staff and is governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of residents representing the community.

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