Pascal Harvey, President and CEO of the Réseau des SADC et CAE, recently stopped in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts in the Laurentians as part of his major regional consultation tour. The purpose of the tour is to meet with key local development stakeholders, listen to their concerns and strengthen ties between the Network and its members.
During his visit, Mr. Harvey, accompanied by Network President Jean Laroche, met with the executive directors and board members of the six SADC and CAE organizations in the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions: SADC de D’Autray-Joliette, SADC Matawinie, SADC Achigan-Montcalm, SADC d’Antoine-Labelle, SADC des Laurentides and CAE Rive-Nord. These meetings provided an opportunity to discuss local priorities, promising projects and the specific needs of each territory.
“We are very pleased to welcome representatives from the Réseau des SADC et CAE. This tour gives us the opportunity to come together to discuss the issues specific to our region, reflect collectively on the future of our organization and highlight the expertise and creativity of our communities. These meetings are essential to strengthening our impact and reinforcing the vitality of our region,” said Martine Paiement, Chair of the SADC des Laurentides and Laurentides-Lanaudière representative on the Réseau des SADC et CAE Board of Directors.
An Inspiring Field Visit to SETA Organic
Taking advantage of his visit, the CEO, SADC representatives and elected officials also visited SETA Organic, a business incubated at La Manufacture that develops a line of matcha lattes, smoothies and lemonades. Winner of two DUX awards last February, SETA stands out for the innovation and quality of its products.
“The SADC des Laurentides has supported us since the beginning of our project, both financially and through coaching. Being an entrepreneur means learning a tremendous amount in a very short time and wearing many hats at once. Over time, you realize how essential it is to surround yourself with the right people and build strong partnerships to go further,” said Isabelle Jolette, founder of SETA Organic.
Concrete Regional Impact
Over the past year, the SADC and CAE organizations in the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions generated significant results:
- More than $11.4 million invested in local businesses through loans
- Approximately 160 businesses financed
- Direct economic impacts that contributed to the creation and maintenance of more than 1,445 jobs in the region.
These figures reflect the unwavering commitment of the SADC and CAE organizations to supporting local businesses and stimulating the economic vitality of every community.
A Network Mobilized for the Regions
At the national level, the Réseau des SADC et CAE stands out as a stable and influential organization in economic development. In total, $108 million was invested over the past year in more than 10,000 businesses and 1,500 collective projects. Additional efforts were made to support entrepreneurs in areas such as business transfer and green and digital transition.
“The Network wants to remain closely connected to regional realities and to our entrepreneurs. This tour allows us to engage directly with local stakeholders, identify issues and adapt our actions to better respond to current and future challenges,” said Pascal Harvey, President and CEO of the Réseau des SADC et CAE.
About the Réseau des SADC et CAE
The Réseau des SADC (Community Futures Development Corporations) and CAE (Business Development Centres) brings together 57 SADC and 10 CAE organizations that have been working for more than 40 years to support the economic development of their communities. More than 1,000 professionals and volunteers support and finance over 10,000 entrepreneurs and 1,500 local economic development projects every year.