SADC Matawinie presented its 2015-2016 activity report at its annual general meeting held on June 22 in Sainte-Marcelline-de-Kildare. Once again, the organization demonstrated its dynamism and ability to adapt to local needs. It's fair to say that a great wind of change has swept through the organization over the past year: new management, new premises and a significantly enhanced service offering.
731,013 $ INVESTED TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
Business consolidation and job preservation were a priority for the organization during this period of economic recovery. SADC took the opportunity to highlight the impact of its interventions and investments. In fact, every dollar invested by SADC has generated more than 3.26 $ in the community, a significant leverage effect for wealth creation in Matawinie. What's more, all the work we've done in consultation with local players at organizational, ministerial and municipal levels has laid a solid foundation for the future.
This year, the SADC granted 731,013 $ in loans to support MRC companies in carrying out their business projects. This financial assistance generated total investments of over 1.8 M $. The 22 business projects financed led to the creation and maintenance of 69 jobs. While the bulk of the funding provided supported the consolidation of existing businesses, 33 % of the funding was granted to foster the emergence of new businesses. Our Youth Strategy Fund supported young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 in the realization of their business projects. This year saw the start-up of 3 franchises, representing 43 % of funding granted in the Youth Strategy fund.
Our business advisors work hand in hand with entrepreneurs to present a viable business project that can be financed according to their borrowing capacity. That's one of the advantages of doing business with our organization.
A MUST IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
In addition to its ongoing support for local economic development in the MRC, the SADC has initiated a brand new commercial study project. A vast consultation campaign involving citizens, vacationers and tourists was launched in February 2016 in ten (10) participating municipalities. This study will identify the main commercial opportunities and stimulate business start-ups and the adaptation of the offering of existing businesses. In addition, a brand-new training and business development program, Savoir entreprendre, is now available, and provided support to twelve (12) entrepreneurs over the course of the year. SADC was also particularly involved in youth entrepreneurship during the year, as well as in supporting the emergence of the non-timber forest products (NTFP) niche. Thanks to our constant efforts and, above all, our ability to listen to local needs, the organization is constantly adapting and innovating. This year, nearly 30,000 $ were invested in local development, helping to generate overall investments of over 608,000 $.
The Board of Directors and the SADC Matawinie team are very proud of the work accomplished over the past year, and look forward to 2016 with great enthusiasm. We invite you to consult our activity report at www.matawinie.qc.ca and visit us at our new facility at 1009 Route 343, Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez.