BizLink™ Program Set to Expand Across Western Ontario
Cambridge, ON – Today, through the program at the 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) being hosted at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, Community Futures Western Ontario (CFWO) in partnership with the Orillia Area Community Development Corp. (Orillia Area CDC), announced their plan to invest in the redevelopment and regional expansion of the BizLink™ Program — an innovative business transition support platform designed to connect businesses buyers and sellers with confidence and confidentiality.
Tailored support for business succession is key to preserving the local economic impact that small businesses have on communities in terms of the goods and services that they offer in addition to employment. A 2024 joint report by the Northern Policy Institute, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Société Économique de l’Ontario (Taking Care of Business: The State of Business Succession and Planning in Ontario) found that “73% of Ontario business owners do not have a completed succession plan in place. One-third of those planning to sell or retire within five years have no plan at all.” This represents a significant opportunity for small businesses to leverage the business advisory and financial support available through the local and regional delivery of the Community Futures program.
Thanks to this partnership, the BizLink™ Program is being redeveloped to be delivered through Community Futures offices that are located within rural communities across all of Western Ontario, offering participating offices access to new tools, CRM integration, onboarding supports, and marketing resources. The initial rollout will reach 21 CF offices in the region, with potential to scale the program even further.
“BizLink™ was created to address a critical need in our communities — helping business owners who are ready to sell, and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to buy, connect with the right supports and each other,” says Jim Fitzgerald, General Manager of the Orillia Area CDC. “This next phase will take BizLink™ to a new level and position it as a key tool in local succession planning efforts.”
The redevelopment includes the launch of a new public-facing website, an enhanced CRM system to streamline client intake and tracking, and a centralized SharePoint hub for CF office staff training and marketing tools. Program updates will also allow local offices to customize materials and better align BizLink™ with their existing services and outreach efforts.
CFWO’s investment in the program ensures that all Community Futures offices in its network will have full access to BizLink ™. “We see BizLink™ as a strategic tool to support small business continuity and economic resilience,” says Todd Copeland, Executive Director of Community Futures Western Ontario. “This partnership will strengthen the capacity of individual offices, facilitate collaboration, and lead the way for future strategic partnerships.”
Originally launched as a pilot project in Simcoe County in 2018, BizLink™ was designed to fill the gap in business transition support.
Community Futures offices participating in BizLink™ will offer tailored services including:
- Confidential intake and matchmaking for buyers and sellers
- Customized marketing tools and business listings
- Connections with valuators, lawyers, accountants, and other professionals
- Access to financing and wraparound business supports
- Succession planning education and coaching
Community and ecosystem partners interested in collaborating or learning more can contact the Orillia Area CDC or Community Futures Western Ontario for updates as we move towards enabling Community Futures offices across Western Ontario to locally deliver the BizLink™ Program.
About Orillia Area Community Development Corp. (Orillia Area CDC):
Orillia Area Community Development Corp. is one of 21 Community Futures offices that locally deliver the Community Futures program across Western Ontario. Orillia Area CDC supports rural communities within Simcoe County (City of Orillia, Townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Severn, and the Chippewas of Rama First Nation) and has previously partnered with three other CF offices serving the remainder of the communities within Simcoe and surrounding regions in the delivery of the BizLink™ Program. To date, local CF offices engaged in the delivery of the BizLink™ Program have supported more than 85 successful business transitions that have contributed to economic viability of the rural communities within Simcoe County and surroundings regions.
About Community Futures Western Ontario (CFWO):
Community Futures Western Ontario is the regional association representing the common interest of the 21 Community Futures offices operating across Western Ontario from Sarnia/Windsor, up to Orillia and down to Niagara Falls. CFWO and the individual CF offices receive base operating funding from Fed Dev Ontario and internally manage investment funds to support the needs of rural entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses and other revenue generating organizations looking to scale within both rural and urban communities.
For more information, please contact:
Jim Fitzgerald
General Manager
Orillia Area Community Development Corp. (Orillia Area CDC)
22 Peter Street South, Orillia, ON, L3V 7A3
705-325-4903 x 106
Todd Copeland
Executive Director
Community Futures Western Ontario (CFWO)
2117-2544 Advanced Ave, London, ON, N6M 0E1
519-752-0381 ext. 104