Community Futures Oxford

What Community Futures Oxford does

Community Futures Oxford is a non-profit Community Futures Development Corporation headquartered in Ingersoll, Ontario, serving small businesses and entrepreneurs across Oxford County. Originally established in 1993 as Oxford Small Business Support Centre Inc. and rebranded to its current name in December 2016, the organization operates as part of a federally funded network of 60 CFDCs in Ontario and 269 across Canada, with financial support from FedDev Ontario and Oxford County.

The organization delivers a coordinated suite of free services across four pillars: business financing (loans up to $350,000 for startups and expansion, microloans up to $15,000 for existing businesses), free one-on-one business advisory, specialized grant programs (Young Entrepreneur Grants, Tourism Innovation Grants of $3,000 each, and the women-focused Thrive Oxford program), and community economic development initiatives administered in partnership with Future Oxford and other regional bodies. A small staff of approximately four — General Manager Allan Simm, Business & Loans Consultant Luigi Basacco, CED Program Coordinator Janet Wakutz, and Accounting & Administration lead Sharon McArthur — delivers services via in-office consultations, on-site client meetings, and a calendar of workshops, breakfast events, and networking sessions.

Since 1993, Community Futures Oxford has disbursed $24,401,283 in loans and equity to 417 businesses, directly impacting 3,294 jobs, and has awarded 368 grants totaling $1,334,208 to entrepreneurs and community projects. The most recent annual reporting period shows 66 businesses assisted, 109 jobs impacted, and $24,886 in grants disbursed across eight projects involving more than 64 partner organizations. The business model is non-revenue-generating at the client level; the organization is funded through government contributions, with event tickets ($15-$50) and pass-through grant administration providing incidental cash flow.

Name

Community Futures Oxford

Legal name

Oxford Small Business Support Centre Inc.

Website

https://cfoxford.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Futures Oxford is a non-profit Community Futures Development Corporation in Ingersoll, Ontario that provides free business loans (up to $350K), microloans, grants, and advisory services to small businesses and entrepreneurs across Oxford County, funded by FedDev Ontario and Oxford County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending and Advisory

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAFAK

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYEDAAAFAM

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYFSAKAEAM

Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent)

Financial & Insurance/Lending & Consumer Finance/Student Loans & Education Finance

Keywords

• Small business financing
• Business advisory services
• Community economic development
• Microloan programs
• Entrepreneur support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ingersoll

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Loans and Financing: Community Futures Oxford provides loans to small businesses to start, grow, or purchase a business. Loans up to $350,000 are available for entrepreneurs who cannot secure traditional financing through banks or credit unions. The organization also offers microloans up to $15,000 for existing businesses through an expedited program.
2. Grants and Community Economic Development: The organization administers various grant programs including Young Entrepreneur Grants, Tourism Innovation Grants ($3,000 each), and Community Economic Development project funding. Since 1993, 368 grants totaling $1,334,208 have been awarded.
3. Business Advisory Services: Free and confidential one-on-one business advice from experienced advisors, self-employment training programs, and workshops on topics like cash flow management, marketing, and customer experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Futures Oxford is a non-profit Community Futures Development Corporation that provides small business financing (loans up to $350,000 and microloans up to $15,000), free business advisory services, and targeted grant and training programs to entrepreneurs and small businesses in Oxford County, Ontario. It also runs community economic development initiatives such as the Young Entrepreneurs Program, Tourism Innovation Grants, Thrive Oxford (women entrepreneurs), Future Oxford Legacy Fund, and Self Employment Training.

Product overview

Community Futures Oxford is a non-profit community economic development organization that operates as a one-stop resource hub for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Oxford County, Ontario. The organization offers a coordinated suite of services centered around four core pillars: business financing (loans from microloans to $350,000), business advisory services (free confidential consulting), specialized grant programs (Young Entrepreneurs, Tourism Innovation Grants, Thrive Oxford for women), and community economic development initiatives. These services are complemented by training programs like Self Employment Training and community workshops and events. The organization has disbursed over $24 million in loans and equity to 417 businesses since 1993, directly impacting 3,294 jobs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Business Loans Loans of up to $350,000 provided to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Oxford County who cannot access financing from traditional banks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 417 businesses supported with $24,401,283 in loans and equity since 1993
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fédération des gens d'affaires francophones de l'Ontario (FGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to strengthen French-language services and support for Franco-Ontarian entrepreneurs and business owners. FGA provides free workshops in French, one-on-one coaching, incubation resources, and exclusive networking opportunities accessible to Community Futures Oxford clients at no charge.
• Tourism OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for the Tourism Innovation Grant Program. Tourism Oxford, Community Futures Oxford, and Rural Oxford Economic Development jointly award grants to businesses developing tourism experiences in Oxford County.
• Rural Oxford Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for the Tourism Innovation Grant Program. Three organizations collaborate to support tourism development in Oxford County through grant funding and program delivery.
• Innovation GuelphminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged consultants to gather community insight about developing an entrepreneurial hub in Oxford County. The consultation includes anonymous surveys and small focus groups.
• FirstOntario Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for the Understanding Your Customer workshop event.
• Future OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Future Oxford Legacy Fund which considers projects that sustain community, economy and environment. Community Futures Oxford administers the Access to Capital loan stream for entrepreneurial activities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Futurpreneur Canada: National non-profit providing financing, mentorship, and resources to young entrepreneurs (ages 18-39) in Canada. Highly comparable to CFO's Young Entrepreneurs Program, though operating nationally with broader scope.
• Community Foundations of Canada: National network of 191 community foundations across Canada managing charitable assets for local grantmaking. Comparable community-development and grantmaking function to CFO, though typically focused on philanthropy rather than business lending.
• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC): National umbrella organization supporting a network of women-focused business assistance centers across Canada. Comparable to CFO's Thrive Oxford women entrepreneur programming at a national coordination level.
• Community Futures Huron: Sister Community Futures Development Corporation serving Huron County, Ontario. Operates essentially the same model — small business loans, advisory, and community economic development — making it a direct regional peer.

Emerging players

• Centre for Social Innovation: Toronto-based non-profit supporting social entrepreneurs and impact-driven ventures with workspace, incubation, and community programs. Comparable mission of supporting purpose-driven small business operators, though urban-focused.

Broad incumbents

• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub providing advisory, programs, and capital connections to entrepreneurs and startups. Comparable business advisory and training services to CFO, though focused on tech and scale-stage ventures.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Crown corporation providing financing, advisory, and capital to Canadian small and medium-sized businesses. Comparable business financing model to CFO but operates nationally with much broader product suite and balance sheet.

Others

• Alterna Savings: Ontario-based credit union providing small business banking and lending. Comparable to CFO in serving underserved small business borrowers in Ontario, though as a regulated financial institution rather than a non-profit CDFI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityFuturesOxford
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-futures-oxford
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityfuturesoxford/?hl=en
• Xx.com/futuresoxford

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Futures Oxford