With 11 businesses supported in 2018-2019, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Outaouais set a record by injecting over $12.5 million in the local economy
Highlights
- In fiscal 2018-2019, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Outaouais invested $12,473,280 in 11 regional companies.
- The partner companies are: Acoustique S. Mayer, Ed Brunet & Associés Canada Inc., Fromagerie Montebello Inc., Innovelec, Le Groupe Fia, Oproma Inc., Parisien Construction, RONA Val-des-Monts, Solacom Technologies Inc., Toitures Raymond et Associés Inc. and VanillaSoft Corp.
- Since their creation in 1996, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Outaouais have invested $70.1 million in the region.
Gatineau, June 25, 2019 – In the past year, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Outaouais invested $3 million in VanillaSoft Corp. and $1 million in Raymond Group. These investments were two of eleven made in 2018-2019, bringing the total to over $12.5 million and setting a new annual investment record for the FRS in Outaouais.
VanillaSoft Corp. accelerates its growth
Based in Gatineau, VanillaSoft Corp. offers Web-based solutions to boost productivity and simplify the management of in-house sales teams and call centres serving the SME market. The $3 million equity investment by the FRS completes a $4 million financing round.
“We’re grateful to the Fonds régionaux, who have believed in us since day one and who are backing us again today as we seek to further accelerate our growth by expanding into our target markets and investing heavily in our sales force,” said David Hood, President and CEO at VanillaSoft Corp.
Raymond Group has the wind in its sails
Founded in Gatineau in 1976, Raymond Group consists of three companies: Raymond Roofing & Associates, Raymond Exterior Veneers, and Raymond General Contractors & Associates. Together, they serve nearly all of Québec and Eastern Ontario. The FRS loans will be used to fund future projects.
“We‘re thankful for the financial support of the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Outaouais, a new partner that will open doors for us to explore new opportunities to grow our business,” said Raymond Group’s president, Alain Raymond.
“Our investment teams are just as interested in companies in the traditional sector as in new economy businesses. Their common denominator is that they all demonstrate vision and develop promising projects to ensure their company’s growth and expansion. VanillaSoft and Toitures Raymond are great examples in this regard and we’re proud to support such dynamic entrepreneurs. These Gatineau companies contribute to our positive results, which have allowed us to inject record amounts in the regional economy this past year,” said Édith Gaudet, Regional Vice President, Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Outaouais, Nord-du-Québec and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions.
A well entrenched and healthy FRS network
In fiscal 2018-2019, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ invested a total of $120,662,030 in 117 Québec businesses. This was an exceptionally strong year in terms of investments and number of files handled since the creation of the Fonds régionaux in 1996.
“Thanks to the Fonds régionaux, we’ve been able to develop a strong network on the ground and boost our presence in every region of Québec. Our investment teams and board members are very close to the business communities they serve. They are therefore well placed to understand local issues and propose financing solutions that meet the needs of the region’s entrepreneurs. These solid results attest to the strength of our network and our contribution to the vitality of the regional economy,” concluded Luc Pinard, President and CEO of the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ.
About the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ
The Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ have been participating in the economic development of Québec’s regions for over 23 years. An integral part of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ network, the Fonds régionaux have invested $918 million in 1,434 projects since their inception in 1996, helping to create, maintain or protect 51,846 jobs.
About VanillaSoft Corp.
Founded in 2005, VanillaSoft offers a sales engagement platform to help sales development teams efficiently target, prioritize and manage contacts with potential customers. Serving the sales technology market, the platform integrates communication by phone, VoIP, email and text.
About Raymond Group
The Raymond Group delivers solutions combining the services provided by its commercial/residential roofing division, commercial exterior veneers division and general contractor division specializing in building envelopes for projects requiring a team to oversee all the roofing and cladding work. TRG also offers Emergency Services and Preventive Maintenance Programs.
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