Community Futures Stratchcona makes a strategic move this spring by moving its entire operating base to one location in Campbell River to realign operations and better serve its region stretching from Fanny Bay to Sayward and west to Gold River and Tahsis.

Up to March of this year, CFS had locations in the Comox Valley and Campbell River.

鈥淭he decision to maintain one centre effectively galvanizes our strengths and consolidates services which stretch to a broad geographic region," general manager Marc Crane said. "Over the years, advancing technology reduced the need for two locations. Focusing on services, rather than on maintaining infrastructure, is a win-win situation for CFS and for making services more accessible to emerging businesses and community projects in the region.鈥�

Crane said that generating development and growth of entrepreneurship and community projects continues to be the mandate of CFS which has, since its inception, provided more than 900 loans to businesses in the region that have created and maintained more than 3,000 jobs. As well, CFS has been instrumental in the growth of major non-profit initiatives in arts and culture as well as in other sectors in the region.

"Although we are focusing on one administrative office, we remain open for business right across the region, and continue to provide loan finance to entrepreneurs starting or expanding their businesses as we have done for more than 25 years," says Crane.

CFS is a registered corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors and is part of a network of Community Futures offices across Canada established in 1985 to provide communities with services ranging from business development loans, technical

support, training and information, strategic planning processes and support of a diverse range of community economic development

projects. For more information visit www.cfstrathcona.ca or call 250-830-0999.