NADF Milestones

NADF Milestones (1984-2014)

1984 Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Chief’s Resolution addresses the need for a financial institution to support First Nations communities in the region.

October 1984 Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) is incorporated.

1985 Frank Price & Associates contracted to undertake a feasibility/business study on NAN communities.

November 1986 President & CEO Bentley Cheechoo is hired to manage NADF.

1987 NADF office opens on the Fort William First Nation.

1987 NADF receives capitalization of $7,000,000.

May 1987 ‘Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund’ officially begins operations.

1987 ‘Loan Guarantee Program’ agreements signed with two banks, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and the Bank of Nova Scotia (ScotiaBank). This agreement permitted NADF to provide loan services for up to a maximum $250,000 to the NAN membership.

1990 NADF organizes and hosts "1st Annual Business Awards".

March 1991 "Direct Loans Program" introduced by NADF, allowing the corporation to administer loans (term, bridge & youth loans).

1992 Industry Canada invests $1.5 million added to enhance NADF's loan fund.

1993 A partnership agreement is signed with Industry Canada to establish an External Delivery Office (XDO) to deliver the Aboriginal Business Development Program to Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

1995 Nishnawbe Aski Business Advisory and Support Services (NABASS) is established to provide pre-developmental and aftercare support for the loan and ABC clients.

1997 Neegani Investment Management Inc. is established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NADF: corporation setup as an investment bank for projects up to $1M.

2002 NADF is designated as a ‘Community Futures Development Corporation’ (CFDC) to deliver services in three mandated activities: 1) business couselling, 2) investment, and 3) community strategic planning.

2002 NADF relocates from trailer complex to Anemki Mountain Corporation on the Fort William First Nation.

2003 Northern Access Centre for Native Business (NACNB) is established.

2004 Partnership agreement with Industry Canada/Aboriginal Business Canada expanded to include delivery of program services to Robinson-Superior 1850 and Treaty #3.

October 2004 Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFI’s) across Canada, including NADF, hit a combined $1 billon dollar milestone for loans granted.

2005 NADF relocates to 106 Centennial Square in Thunder Bay, ON.

2005 Chiefs Steering Committee is established to communicate the findings of the Manitoba-Ontario Interconnection project to the communities of NAN.

2005 NADF co-sponsors ‘Project Beyshick’.  NAN participants are involved in a one-week mentoring/job shadowing program focused on building entrepreneurship amongst Youth.

2007  NADF hosts "1st Annual ‘Fairways for the Future’ Charity Golf Classic" at Thunder Bay's Fort William Country Club.

October 2009 Incorporated on October 22, 1984, NADF celebrates its 25th Anniversary.

June 2010 NADF co-hosts the Annual Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC) Conference with Thunder Bay Ventures (a fellow Community Futures Development Corporation) in Thunder Bay.

June 2010 NADF is presented with the "2010 Award of Excellence" at the Annual OACFDC Conference for its free business literacy video conference workshops delivered to First Nation communities across northern Ontario.

2010 NADF achieves $25 million in loans, creating over 2,000 jobs and assisting in the creation of over 500 businesses across northern Ontario.

2010 NADF hosts the "20th Annual Business Awards" in Thunder Bay, maintaining our record as Canada’s longest running Annual Aboriginal Business Awards.

2011 NADF's head office relocates to the Fort William First Nation.

2011 NADF launches free online Aboriginal Business Directory on the NADF website.

2013 Brian Davey assumes the role of Executive Director for NADF.

2014 NADF begins administering the Aboriginal Business Canada Program, rebranding it as the Aboriginal Business Contribution Program.

2014 NADF receives $4.4M in funding from FedNor to undertake a 3-year project to support business development in the Ring of Fire.

 

Past President & CEO's of Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund

Bentley Cheechoo   Ruth Corbett    Dennis Cromarty    Harvey Yesno

View 25th Anniversary Special in Volume 37 Issue #8 of Wawatay Newspaper here.