On Thursday evening SADC Pontiac held its annual general meeting at Rafting Momentum in Bryson.
SADCs are federally-funded organizations that support rural economic development through grants, loans, and other tools.
The group reviewed the minutes of last year’s meeting, and received an auditor’s report of their financial statements.
Director Rhonda Perry highlighted the three new funds available this year, each offering loans of between $10,000-$50,000, interest-free for the first two years:
– the digital strategy fund, for businesses updating their IT or communications technology
– the green strategy fund for projects to reduce emissions or improve energy efficiency
– the transfer strategy fund, for businesses looking to transfer ownership
According to the SADC’s report, they issued three of the digital strategy loans in the last year, and one each of the other two.
“Those are popular because there’s no interest for the first two years,” Perry said, adding that their youth loans for entrepreneurs 18 to 39 years old have similar terms and are also popular. The report notes that the SADC issued $88,000 in youth loans last year,
Perry also highlighted the organization’s 40th anniversary celebrations last year, which included visits to all the municipalities throughout the region, as well as a dinner on Mansfield’s iconic red covered bridge. She said that getting out on the territory was very worthwhile, and led to some projects that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
“I think us being more mobile has created an influx of requests, people coming in,” she said. “We think people know what we do [ . . . ] but a lot of people don’t really know what we can do to help them. I think that it will be important to continue being present out in the communities, being visible, and visiting our businesses.”
During the meeting, SADC business advisor Brittany Morin spoke about the organization’s service agreement with the Chutes Coulonge, where Morin recently passed off the director reins to Cameron Montgomery. She said they’d made significant infrastructure improvements as well as hosting their first Lumberjack Day festival, which was a success.
Several seats on the SADC’s board were up for election, and all were re-elected without opposition:
– Seat 2 (Entrepreneur Pontiac Center): Terry Lafleur
– Seat 4 (Entrepreneur Municipality of Pontiac): Trefor Munn-Venn
– Seat 6 (Social economy): Paul Boisvert
– Seat 7 (Youth): Erica Dubé
– Seat 8 (Women): Ellen Boucher
To close out the meeting portion of the evening, Perry recognized three SADC employees, business advisor Sarah Graveline, administrative assistant Lise Lagarde and financial analyst Tracy Francoeur for their years of service.
The keynote speaker for the event was Roch Fortin, a television producer and executive who spoke on the subject of uncertainty and innovation.
