Application Process Details

Community Futures Eastern Ontario follows this process, when considering an eligible organization’s submission. We would like to have a conversation with you first, to share information and to make this process easier.

1. "Statement of Interest” submitted by eligible organization
2. Statement of Interest reviewed by SOFII staff for eligibility within 5 business days
3. Organization informed whether to proceed to full application and provided with guidance pertaining to SOFII and other sources of support
4. The applicant will be asked to engage in either face to face or virtual meetings including scheduled onsite visits by SOFII staff
5. Organization submits full application including all requested attachments (detailed checklist is provided with the SOFII Loan Application)
6. SOFII staff will check for application completeness and begin due diligence analysis. Further information may be required.
7. SOFII Staff seek 3rd party expert advice as needed
8. SOFII Staff provides a summary and formal recommendation to Investment Review Committee
9. Investment Review Committee reviews application and makes the decision to approve/decline or defer and applicant will be asked to present in person or virtually depending on location and timing.
10. Community Futures Eastern Ontario Board of Directors approves recommendation of the Investment Review Committee
11. Application decisions are communicated to the Applicant, including formal written notification in all cases
12. Formal Letter of Offer sent to Applicant, where Approved.
13. Loan documentation and security arranged, all arrangements made and loan funds disbursed by Community Futures Eastern Ontario legal counsel.

Our process typically takes 4 – 11 weeks from receipt of completed application with all documentation, to notification of decision. This program has a continuous, open intake period.

Evaluation Criteria and Process

Eligible Organizations

Eligible applicants are private sector innovative SMEs located in South Eastern Ontario who are engaged in projects that will result in the adaptation and adoption of new technologies, projects, processes or markets. Eligible organizations will:

• Employ 50 to 500 employees, or identify that there is a strong likelihood that they will reach 50 employees within a three-year period.
• Be unable to obtain adequate and reasonable financing from other lending sources
• Operate in Southern Ontario
• Demonstrate job creation/retention for Southern Ontario residents
• Be suitable for public funding
• Establish a reasonable expectation of economic viability
• Demonstrate the ability to repay funds advanced by Community Futures Eastern Ontario
• Have secured the required matching funding through private investment, financial or equity partnerships or working capital.
• Provide evidence of their ability or experience to operate the business
• Generating revenue

Ineligible Organizations

• Federal and provincial government departments (eg: agencies, boards, corporations and commissions
• Post-secondary institutions (eg; colleges, polytechnic institutes, universities and teaching institutions)
• Not-for-Profit corporations, and
• Municipal governments

Statement of Interest

Organizations wishing to apply for a loan from SOFII will be required to first complete a Statement of Interest. Projects meeting the eligibility guidelines will be encouraged to, and counselled in how to, apply for support.

Your Statement of Interest should be completed on-line or, scanned and emailed, to our office. Organizations providing a Statement of Interest will receive a response within 5 business days of submission. The Statement of Interest will be reviewed and assessed by SOFII program staff.

Contact

We invite you to contact us to discuss further the program.

Eligible businesses must be situated in or planning to locate within the geographic area described as Southern Ontario, Eastern Region.

Community Futures Eastern Ontario serves the following areas as defined by Stats Canada census divisions: Durham, Frontenac, Haliburton, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Ottawa, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, Toronto and York.

If you are not located in one of the above areas, you may be supported by the South West Ontario Region. Please go to the South West Ontario Region's website.

Please contact:

Michelle Cathers
SOFII Loans Manager
Community Futures Eastern Ontario
Phone: 705 486 5557
Email: michelle.cathers@cfeasternontario.ca