SADC Maria-Chapdelaine and BDC create a new financing model for entrepreneurs
in rural areas

DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI, QC, Nov. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - The Société d'aide au développement de la collectivité (SADC) Maria-Chapdelaine (a Community Futures Development Corporation: CFDC) today announced a new partnership between the Network of CFDCs and CBDCs (Community Business Development Centres) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to finance small businesses outside urban centres.

Under this partnership, SADC Maria-Chapdelaine has been accredited by BDC to authorize additional financing on BDC's behalf of up to twice the amount authorized by the SADC, to a maximum of $50,000. BDC will make the loan based entirely on due diligence performed by the SADC. Besides considerably reducing the time to process loan applications, this joint program will allow the SADC to authorize loans of up to $200,000 to eligible businesses. To support larger projects, the two organizations will continue to share expertise.

Léon-Paul Darveau, Chair of the Board of SADC Maria-Chapdelaine, is enthusiastic about this new partnership: "It will increase our capacity to support small business start-ups and development in our area."

BDC believes this partnership is an innovative way to support entrepreneurs outside of urban centres. Sébastien Gagnon, Manager of the BDC Saguenay/Lac St-Jean Business Centre, explains: "Our aim is to reach as many entrepreneurs as possible so that they can take advantage of our financing and consulting services. When we combine our efforts with those of SADC Maria-Chapdelaine, entrepreneurs will have better access to a variety of financing sources and more efficient processing of loan applications."

In addition to this joint loan initiative, BDC offers SADC Maria-Chapdelaine its expertise in training and consulting services.

About SADC Maria-Chapdelaine
One of the aims of SADC Maria-Chapdelaine is to support businesses and job creation in the territory of the Maria-Chapdelaine MRC (regional county municipality) with technical services and financial support. www.sadcmaria.qc.ca

About BDC
BDC is Canada's business development bank. From more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs. www.bdc.ca

For further information:

Errol Lapierre, MBA, CHRP
General Manager, SADC Maria-Chapdelaine
418 276-0405, ext. 202
[email protected]

Geoffrey King
Director, Public Relations, BDC
514 496-4351
[email protected]