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Local entrepreneurs, businesses and not-for-profit organizations are invited to apply for loans and grants under the Future Oxford Legacy Fund. This fund was established to support the people in Oxford County, working to sustain Oxford’s community, economy and environment.

Applications to either the Community Development Support stream or the Access to Capital stream must demonstrate a sustainable business model and align to the environment, economy and community “pillars” of the Future Oxford Community Sustainability Plan. Applications for Access to Capital loans are available year-round, while applications for the latest intake of the Community Development Support grant are due by July 17, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

A special information session takes place on June 27 for applicants to the Community Development Support stream, which offers grants to not-for-profit organizations that are working to support the goals of the Future Oxford Community Sustainability Plan.
 

Community Development Support Information Session
Monday, June 27, 2022 | 1:00 p.m.
447 Hunter Street, Woodstock (United Way Boardroom)
Register online at eventbrite.ca.  
 

The Future Oxford Legacy Fund has created and maintained more than 203 jobs since its inception in 2016 and disbursed $898,613 in loans and $33,730 in grants. The fund is a partnership between Future Oxford, Community Futures Oxford and Oxford County.

For more information or to apply to the Future Oxford Legacy Fund, visit www.cfoxford.ca. For more information about Future Oxford, visit www.futureoxford.ca.
 

Background

The Future Oxford Legacy Fund considers projects and initiatives that sustain our community, economy and environment. This includes but is not limited to projects that support affordable clean energy, responsible consumption and production, life on land, innovation and infrastructure, economic growth, poverty reduction, gender equality, and good health and well-being.

Future Oxford disperses funds in two streams:

Community Development Support (grants)
This stream offers non-repayable loans to not-for-profit initiatives that align with sustainable actions as defined by the three pillars of the Future Oxford Community Sustainability Plan. Applications are accepted in two intakes, once in the spring and again in the fall. This year, up to $10,000 in funding is available in the grant stream.

Access to Capital (loans)
The “Access to Capital” stream provides funding for entrepreneurial activities with an emphasis on youth opportunities, arts and culture, tourism, high-tech manufacturing, and green technology. Successful applicants, including private businesses, can receive financing of up to $100,000 through a repayable loan with flexible repayment terms. Community Futures Oxford administers the fund. Applications are accepted year-round.

A multi-criteria assessment tool is used to determine if requests for funding and investment meet the goals, objectives and targets of the Future Oxford Community Sustainability Plan. The tool uses a weighted “sustainability scorecard” to assess or compare community, economic and environmental factors.
 

About Future Oxford

Future Oxford presents a vision to foster and maintain a high quality of life throughout Oxford. It is a vision that inspires community members to explore and expand the potential to improve quality of life for Oxford’s current and future generations. The Future Oxford: A Community Sustainability Plan is the plan for how the community will achieve this vision. The plan is guided by the Future Oxford Collective, a group of volunteers and partners who are advancing the Future Oxford Community Sustainability Plan through collaboration, education and promotion. For more information and to read the Plan online, visit www.futureoxford.ca.
 

About Community Futures Oxford

Community Futures Oxford is one of 60 Community Futures Development Corporations in Ontario and 269 across Canada. With financial assistance from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Community Futures Oxford provides access to capital, delivers programs and services to assist small businesses, and support community economic development in Oxford County.