Our Mandate

The Venture Centre / Le Centre de développement is a community-based, non-profit organization that is dedicated to creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and to the pursuit of economic growth in our community. We are your local branch of the Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) and a member of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC). Funded by FedNor, The Venture Centre / Le Centre de développement is a community economic development initiative designed to help find local solutions for local economies.

Our Clientele

A network of CFDCs exist across Ontario and as your local CFDC, we service a total catchment population of 50,000 that includes the following communities:

>>Click here to view our regional map

Timmins
• Location: Highway 101, 655
• Population: 43,686 people
• Access: land, air, rail daily
• Bilingual community (38% of population is francophone)
• Official website: City of Timmins

Gogama
• Location: Highway 144 (108 km south of Timmins)

• Situated on Lake Minisinakwa
• Population: 700-850 people (seasonal)
• Access: land, rail, air (daily bus service from Timmins through Sudbury)

• Official website: Gogama Chamber of Commerce

Foleyet
• Location: Northwest of the District of Sudbury (98 km west on Highway 101 between Timmins and Chapleau)
• Population: 350 people (50% of which are francophone)
• Access: On CN rail line to Western Canada
• Official website: Foleyet

Mattagami First Nation
• Location: Along central portion of Mattagami Lake, 12 miles northeast of Gogama
• Population: 244 registered band members with 150 Aboriginals living on reserve (40.2% of population is under 20 years old)
• Access: Highway 144 by a 3 mile road

Shining Tree
• Location: Highway 650 (east of Highway 144 between Timmins and Sudbury)
• Population: 26 year round residents (greatly increases during summer)
• Access: air, land, trail services
• Shining Tree Improvement, Development, and Recreation Committee
• Official website: Shining Tree

Biscotasing
• Location: 131 km from Chapleau off the Sultan-Ramsey Road

Our Services

Our approach is simple: We are people helping people. Run by a board of local volunteers and professional staff, we take a grass roots approach to investing in local entrepreneurs, exporters and community initiatives. Here are the key services that we offer you:

• Community economic planning and development
• Access to funding for community projects and small businesses
• Business counseling, services and commercial resources

Keeping You Connected...

The Venture Centre / Le Centre de développement is committed to developing awareness, access and understanding of technology.  We work closely with NEOnet to advance this goal.

Northeastern Ontario Partnerships

Along with our sister Community Futures Development Corporations, we are actively involved in many projects which have an impact on our regional economy.

Projects Include:
• Youth Enterprise Camp
• Export Development
• Northern Ontario Value Added Initiative (N.O.V.A.)