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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1995-03-22, Page 27Page 26 Times -Advocate, March 22, 1995 _COMMUNITY Economic betterment organization goal By David Emslie CLINTON - The betterment of the econorny in Huron County is the goal of two organizations who marked their first year of successful operation last week, before amal- gamating into one Targe corpora- tion. The first annual general meetings of the Huron Community Futures Corporation and the Huron Busi- ness Development Corporation (HBDC) was held at the Clinton Town Hall on March 8, and those in attendance for the meetings were able to view displays from over 30 businesses and services available in the county. Aside from viewing the displays, those on hand also learned about the activities carried out by the now amalgamated corporations in their first year. Don Pullen, chair of Community Futures, welcomed all to the meet- ing, and noted the evening was be- ing held so all can reflect back on the first year of operation for the corporations. He stated that all in- volved care about the future of the Huron economy, and all have worked over the last year "to do something about it." Through Community Futures, which is a federal job creation pro- gram supported by Human Re- sources Development Canada Pul- le.r said that local people are able to take charge of helping the local economy. According to the corpora - Cancer screening project announced for London and Middlesex LONDON - Marion Boyd MPP for London Centre, David Win- ninger MPP for London South, and Irene Mathyssen MPP for Middlesex announced Tuesday the provincial government will pro- vide a $300,000 grant to the Onta- rio Cancer Treatment and Re- search Foundation (OCTRF) to set up pilot projects for cervical screening in London and Middles- ex County. "An organized cervical screen- ing program will save lives. Cervi- cal cancer can he prevented and screening is an important part of our government's strategy to treat and prevent cancer," said Mrs. Boyd. OCTRF will receive $100,000 per year from the Ministry for three years to set up a computer- ized information system," said Winninger. "The computer system is an important part of an OCTRF project to determine how cervical screening is practiced." OCTRF will fund the costs of setting up two pilot sites in Thun- der Bay, and London and Middles- ex County. Currently cervical screening is not as effective as it should be. Some women at risk arc not under- going Pap testing while others are being screened more than required. The OCTRF project will bring to- gether health care professionals in- volved in screening. It will aim to recruit hard -to -reach women who arc not being screened now such as aboriginal and immigrant wom- en. Ontario dcath rates from cervical cancer declined dramatically with the introduction of Pap testing in the 1950s. Since 1975, the rate has not changcd significantly. Jurisdic- tions with organized screening programs have been able to reduce mortality rates below Ontario's. The pilot project was proposed by the Cervical Screening Ad Noc Working Group, formed in 1993 by the OCTRF, Ontario Medical Association and Ontario's private laboratories. This group will also advise the OCTRF as the project advances. "The prevention and treatment of cancer has been a major priority of our government," said Mathyssen. "Our commitment has real benefits particularly for women. In 1990 only .'00 women were screened by the Ontario Breast Screening Pro- gram. In 1995 over 60,000 women will be screened." tion's annual report: "In November 1993, the Huron Community Fu- tures Corporation launched its five- year program for' economic re- newal. The Community Futures strategy focuses on initiatives to support existing business, build upon agriculture, promote tourism. develop new skills, encourage en- trepreneurs and attract new ec- onomic activities to Huron County." Paul Nichol, the coordinator for Community Futures, gave an over- view of the corporation, and stated that its mission is: "To create and maintain employment opportunities and assist the residents of Huron County to adapt to a changing economy." Using an overhead, Nichol showed the audience that the long term goals of the corporation are: • to increase job prospects for Huron County residents • to diversify the local econorny in a variety of new sectors • to encourage job opportunities for our youth • to generate more business and commerce • to maintain agriculture as a foundation of our economy • to ensure the competitiveness of business • to stimulate entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurial culture • to encourage local leadership in dealing with community develop ment issues Also while using the overhead, Nichol explained that the corpora- tion hopes to meet these aims by supporting existing business, build- ing upon agriculture, promoting tourism, developing new skills, en- couraging entrepreneurs and at- tracting new economic activities. Nichol also outlined the work followed through . by Cpmmunity Futures in 1994. Among the pro- jects he mentioned were helping to establish the Huron Business Cen- tre; supporting marketing efforts for locally produced arts, crafts and food products through the Christ- mas in Country catalogue; en- hancing business management skills and knowledge for county enterprises through sponsoring a Business Training and Counselling program; sponsoring small busi- ness seminars and workshops; of- fering a Farm Business Initiative to help 19 farm families in their ef- forts to develop, expand and en- hance on-farm business and in- come opportunities; undertaking an All Jersey Market Feasibility Study; compiling and publishing a Huron County Farm Gate bro- chure; helping local tourist oper- ators form the Huron Tourism As- sociation; and offering a 10 week Introduction to Small Business course. families; Aside from looking back over the • determine the potential for new tourism events and attractions, in- cluding annual "Maple Mania" and "Renaissance" Festivals; • help draw more visitors to Hu- ron County by creating Visitors' In- centive Programs in concert with local tourist operators • coordinate and sponsor a 1995 10 Steps to Community Action leadership training program; • participate in the development of a Labor Market Information Net- work providing area employers with accurate, up-to-date in- formation on labor market trends, labor force characteristics and avail- able business programs and ser- vices; • work with a coalition of or- ganizations to develop a Youth Em- ployment Initiative that will prove future job prospects young people. past year, Nichol gave a sneak pre- view of what Community Futures has planned for 1995. On the over- head, he showed that Community Futures will: • pursue the establishment of a Community Investment Share Cor- poration to encourage more local investment in Huron County busi- ness ventures; • offer Business Management Workshops to improve customer service and marketing skills among Huron County businesses • develop opportunities for en- hanced processing and marketing of Huron County farm projects by or- ganizing information workshops and seminars; • establish a Farm Ventures Pro- gram to help create farm -based mi- cro -enterprises and alternative in- come opportunities for local farm im- for s\11 33(76)IffelF eStarts Sal Niar• 9:00 p.m - Wednesday, tell reduced • n will be re her car Friday Night and vinyl floor, een Frrice. 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