Up to twenty-five Francophone and bilingual collective businesses in Ontario will be eligible to receive a grant to improve their services thanks to a partnership between the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario (CCO), a member of the Canadian CED Network, and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) under the Ontario Social Impact Vouchers’ program (OSIV).
The OSIV will allow collective entrepreneurs, both social enterprises and cooperatives to create jobs and achieve more social, cultural or environmental impacts on their activities, while adding value to Ontario’s Francophone and bilingual communities.
“With this investment, collective enterprises from all regions in Ontario will be able to reinforce their development by using CCO’s specialized services,” says Julien Geremie, Director of Development at CCO. “As the funds are available as of today, we are ready to work with project developers of interested groups.”
The 25 collective enterprises chosen for the program will also receive specialized support from CCO. Depending on the stage of development of the business during an initial evaluation, CCO’s team may suggest a personalized work plan including a market study, a feasibility study, a business plan or an operation budget.
“The Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario plays a really important role in the collective enterprises sector,” said Tom Corr, OCE President and CEO. “We had tremendous success during the first year of the OSIV program and we are thrilled to be able to offer support to more collective enterprises with the help of CCO.”
Launched recently by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) in collaboration with Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG), the OSIV program will provide services and resources through the distribution of up to 200 Social Impact Vouchers with a value of up to $3,000 per voucher to social entrepreneurs and enterprises. The vouchers will be distributed through delivery organizations selected by OCE after an open call and assessment process.
CCO is situated in the heart of a network of more than 300 partners with its three locations in Ottawa, Toronto and Sudbury. CCO is the only organization in Ontario which provides quality services to Francophone and bilingual social enterprises and cooperatives.
Those interested in the program should contact Julien Geremie for further details, julien.geremie at cco.coop
About the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario:
The Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario is the only organization to support the sustainable and economic development of francophone and bilingual cooperatives and social enterprises in Ontario through education, promotion, consultation and services.
For more information, please contact:
Julien Geremie
Director of development
416-364-4545
julien.geremie at cco.coop
Nadine Olivier
Communication Coordinator
705-560-1121 ext. 101
nadine.olivier at cco.coop
