The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario receives a $380,000 grant from the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs to create a new Franco-Ontarian Business Ecosystem

Toronto, February 3, 2022— The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario (FGA) is pleased to be able to continue supporting the growth of small and medium-sized businesses with a new funding of $380,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs (OFA). It will create a new francophone business ecosystem in Ontario that will foster the development of francophone businesses through pre-incubation, incubation, implementation and acceleration services (PIIA).

“With the implementation of a provincial Francophone business ecosystem, the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario (FGA) is proud to play a unifying role for organizations which are constantly stimulating the growth of the Franco-Ontarian business community. Thanks to the support of the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs, we will soon offer an innovative online portal allowing the sharing and integration of incubation programs and projects. Aiming at bringing our collective innovation to new heights, it will offer new and sustainable collaborative spaces (virtual and physical), including CCO’s Tracés collectifs and EntrepreneuriatSÉO incubation solutions that facilitate the development of our Francophone businesses.”—Dominic Mailloux, President of the FGA

Launched in collaboration with several stakeholders and key players in the Franco-Ontarian business sector, including Collège Boréal, Collège La Cité, the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario, the Fondation franco-ontarienne, the Société Économique de l’Ontario and the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens, this new initiative will expand the range of services offered to businesses by the FGA and will foster a collaborative approach among member organizations.

“The creation of a Francophone business ecosystem is a significant step forward in supporting the implementation of Ontario’s Francophone economic development strategy. With this additional investment of $380,000, the government will enable the FGA to create a true one-stop shop to access services, enhance networking and provide much-needed guidance and coaching to entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. Within the framework of a concerted approach, the FGA will also be able to count on the expertise and collaboration of its partners for the benefit of Francophone start-ups and growing businesses.”—Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s Minister of Francophone Affairs

This new support for Franco-Ontarian businesses will include:

• A dedicated user-centred online portal that will list and connect all pre-incubation, incubation, implementation and acceleration (PIIA) programs and projects available to Francophone businesses in Ontario;
• A unique space in downtown Toronto for entrepreneurs and start-ups needing physical space to house their staff, receive their clients, use specialized equipment or store basic materials and finished products;
• A financial support to existing incubation programs offered by member organizations of the ecosystem.

“The Cooperation Council of Ontario is delighted to have the support of the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario and the confidence of the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs to promote and offer quality French-language services to Francophone communities, such as the very first Francophone incubation program offered in Toronto, Tracés collectifs. The $41,000 grant we will receive will allow us to open up access to the incubation program by offering bursaries to cover the participation fees of the candidates. It will also give us the opportunity to call upon local Francophone stakeholders to bring their expertise to our program, thus promoting the networking of an entire Francophone business ecosystem, which is necessary to enable francophone entrepreneurs to develop their impact projects.”—Julien Geremie, Executive Director at CCO.

The FGA is proud to play a key role in improving the incubation services available in Ontario with a $41,000 envelope given to the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario to promote the deployment of the Tracés collectifs program and another $66,350 allocated to the Société Économique de l’Ontario (SÉO) to enhance a new module for Black Women Entrepreneurs to the virtual incubation program EntrepreneuriatSÉO.

“The Société Économique de l’Ontario (SÉO) is very proud of EntrepreneuriatSÉO, the first province-wide virtual business incubator for Francophone entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs, said Denis Laframboise, President of the SÉO. Officially launched in November, EntrepreneuriatSÉO has generated several hundred requests for information and 35 people have registered for the first cohort, which began on November 22. This is quite a success and shows us that there is a need in Ontario for such a project geared towards Francophone entrepreneurs. EntrepreneuriatSÉO, which was implemented in collaboration with more than 20 community partners, currently has seven specialized components. We are very pleased with this additional financial support from the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs, which will allow us to enhance a new component we are currently developing for black Francophone women.”

The FGA is delighted with the confidence shown once again by the Ontario government which, through this funding, is renewing its commitment to stimulate economic growth and job creation for Francophone entrepreneurs and businesses.

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About the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario (FGA)
The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario supports, represents, and advances the interests of its members and economic stakeholders to fully develop the Francophone business community through principled policy work, resourceful business services and innovative activities focused on Francophone business market development.

Contacts

Mélanie Grenier
Communications Manager
media@fedefranco.ca

Richard Kempler
Executive Director, FGA
richard.kempler@fedefranco.ca