Who We Are
Investing in People and Place.
For nearly four decades, the CDC has worked alongside entrepreneurs, businesses, and community partners to build a stronger, more resilient economy in Sault Ste. Marie and Area.
Who We Are
Who We Are
A community organization, built by the community.
The Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area (CDC) is a community-based, non-profit organization governed by a local volunteer Board of Directors.
Founded in Sault Ste. Marie in 1986, the CDC was established as part of the federal Community Futures program — a national network of community-led organizations dedicated to economic development in rural and northern communities across Canada. As a FedNor-funded Community Futures Development Corporation, the CDC operates independently under local governance, ensuring the programs and priorities it delivers reflect the real needs of this region — not a one-size-fits-all mandate set from afar.
The CDC is a proud member of Community Futures Ontario, a provincial network of organizations working to strengthen the economic fabric of communities across the province.
Who We Are
Proudly serving Sault Ste. Marie & Area.
The CDC serves Sault Ste. Marie and a broad surrounding region of Northern Ontario, including areas:
If you live, work, or run a business anywhere within this region, the CDC's programs and services are available to you.
What is Community Futures?
Community Futures is a federal government program delivered through a national network of locally governed, non-profit organizations. There are over 260 Community Futures organizations across Canada, each serving a specific rural or northern region.
What makes the model distinctive is local control. Each Community Futures organization — including the CDC — is governed by volunteers from the community it serves. That means decisions about priorities, programs, and funding are made locally, by people who understand the region firsthand.
The CDC is a member of Community Futures Ontario, a provincial association representing Community Futures organizations across Ontario, and is supported by FedNor — the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
Explore the rest of our story.
The "Who We Are" page is just the starting point. Dig deeper into the people, principles, and programs that make the CDC tick.