Who We Are:
Community Futures South Georgian Bay (CF SGB), previously known as the Centre For Business and Economic Development, is a not-for-profit Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) sponsored by Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. We’re governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and are one of 61 CFDCs in Ontario.
What We Do:
Our mandate is to develop and diversify the local economy. We are a one-stop business resource for new and expanding businesses and offer:
- business loans up to $300,000
- business coaching/mentoring program
- business counselling
- support for community economic development
Our Service Area:
CF South Georgian Bay’s service area includes the municipalities within West Simcoe, South Grey and Dufferin Counties.
South Grey County
- Meaford
- Town of The Blue Mountains
West Simcoe County
- Collingwood
- Township of Clearview
- Wasaga Beach
Dufferin County
- Grand Valley
- Mono
- Orangeville
- Shelburne
- Township of Amaranth
- Township of East Garafraxa,
- Township of Melancthon and
- Township of Mulmur
Find the Community Futures Office for your area – https://cfontario.ca/find-cfdc-office-pf-en
Staff
Gillian Fairley
General Manager (ext. 101)
[email protected]
General manager only because full time super skilled hero is not a job title.
Gillian has assisted small businesses in the community for over 10 years providing mentoring, resources, advice and support during all phases of business start-up, development and growth. Prior to working with the entrepreneurial community, Gillian travelled throughout the United States and Europe as a management consultant working with both large and small organizations. She has also run her own business including a charitable organization. When not in the office, Gillian takes full advantage of the amazing snowshoeing and hiking trails in the area.
Angela Ewald
Administrative Assistant (ext. 102)
[email protected]
Angela returned to our organization in the fall of 2021. She had previously worked here from 2001 to 2008 before moving to northern Ontario for twelve years. When she comes across documents with her handwriting from before, it can be a bit surreal. Angela has an extensive background in office administration. She completes our ongoing bookkeeping and recordkeeping as well as our social media updates. Her work experience has allowed her to exercise some hidden talents: she can read upside down, say the alphabet backwards, and she has a keen eye for editing documents. Outside of work, Angela enjoys spending time with family or exploring the trails and paths in the area.
Alessia Bottini
Business Advisor (ext. 103)
[email protected]
Alessia was born and raised in Rome, Italy and at 19 left for a ‘six months experience’ to London, UK, where she then ended up finishing her studies and working with various local businesses in the Tourism / Hospitality Industry for the next 7 years. Alessia moved to Collingwood in early 2019 and since then has worked in the Tourism / Hospitality Industry where she gained the knowledge necessary to help small businesses get started and run smoothly and efficiently, grow and develop. Alessia volunteers for the Community Connection South Georgian Bay to help isolated Seniors find activities in our area, as well as being actively involved with the Town of Collingwood Community.In her free time Alessia likes to go swimming at the local pool, try out any new restaurants and go for long walks by the water.
Board of Directors
Todd Young
Darryl Hindle
Mira Ortved
John Squire
Derron Bodell
Mark Jamieson
Alex Schwertner
Ronda Fox
Andrew Graham
Andrew Hansen