Justin Medve
Special to the Beaver
Designers at People Power Press are diving deeper into their niche with the help of a $20,000 grant from the Prince Edward-Lennox and Addington Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC).
People Power Press has left its mark along the 401 corridor for the last decade. In Napanee, countless buttons and branded goods are pressed and packed to ship for retail in Toronto and Ottawa.
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio announced the $20,000 PELA CFDC grant at the People Power Press outlet in Napanee Friday, allotted out of a possible $25,000 in government funding.
Bossio was introduced by PELA CFDC social finance specialist and grants program manager, Trevor Brookes, who thanked all parties for taking the opportunity to collaborate.
Bossio said working together is key for local businesses, nonprofits and government to strengthen the local economy and thrive.
“Without the CFDC, our small businesses wouldn’t grow – they wouldn’t survive and that would be a direct attack on rural sustainability,” Bossio said.
But success doesn’t come without knowledge of the trade: Bossio noted that the diversity in items that People Power Press offers is key to staying afloat in the modern business world.
“If we want sustainable rural communities, we have to do more than one thing to create that sustainability – and you guys have actually done that here in spades,” he told the crew.
Leading the group for a brief tour, People Power Press chief executive officer Clive Shirley demonstrated the latest equipment that funding has helped cover. He explained that businesses need to have a plan for any money they receive, whether it be an investment or creating new positions.
“When a little bit comes in like that, maybe a little bit comes in from somewhere else and you just move it all forward,” Shirley told the Beaver.
Shirley said he’s thankful to have found opportunity and support in a rural atmosphere since more hectic beginnings in the city.
“Location is key and then when you live here, life’s pretty good,” Shirley said.
This is the second collaboration between PELA CFDC and People Power Press.
Shirley said he’s unsure if the business will pursue funding again soon, but he said he hopes to see others benefit the same way.
The grant falls under the Eastern Ontario Development Program and is funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, a push to keep rural economics strong using investment support.