Community development
MEGAN ABRAHAM
Community Development & Communications Officer
comms@marmoraandlake.ca
613-472-2629, ext. 2231
Check out the Visit Marmora website:
https://visitmarmoraandlake.ca/
Small Business Funding Forum
When: November 25, 2026, 8 a.m. to noon
Where: Marmora Community Centre, 28 Victoria Street, Marmora
Cost: FREE! Breakfast included
The Municipality has partnered with CFDC of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin for the very first Small Business Funding Forum in Marmora and Lake.
If you're a small business owner, this forum is for you! Join us on November 25 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Marmora and Lake Community Centre (28 Victoria Street, Marmora).
Connect directly with local, municipal, provincial and federal funding partners, and learn about what they have to offer your business. Discover how to access grants, programs and services tailored to rural Ontario.
We will have speakers from the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs, Rural Ontario Institute, Small Business Centre, Community Employment Services - Loyalist College, Nventure and more!
Between speakers, you can visit more than 15 booths featuring local organizations.
This event is FREE to attend, and includes breakfast.
Interested in joining us? Sign up via Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/yrs8bsak
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Our Economic Development Advisory Committee meets the third Wednesday of the month at 5:00 pm, in the William Shannon Room at the Marmora and Lake Public Library (37 Forsyth Street).
Meetings are open to the public to observe; however, the public may not participate in the discussion unless they are placed on the agenda.
Committee Members:
Councillor Eric Daoust (Chair - edaoust@marmoraandlake.ca)
Megan Abraham (staff representative - non-voting)
Kimberley Alldread
Andrea Christie
Sean Graham
Sean Hale
Oliver Heubeck
Siobhan Hughes
Anne MacNeill
Jane Pearson
Marmora and Lake Community Ambassador Program
In 2025, the Marmora and Lake Economic Development Advisory Committee launched its Community Ambassador program to help new and existing residents connect with the community.
What is a Community Ambassador? Well, it’s simply a volunteer knows the community well, and can help bridge the gaps between residents and local resources.
Our Ambassadors are kind, friendly and helpful, and have knowledge about all things Marmora - including opening a new business, enrolling your children in daycare and school, joining local community organizations, and finding your way around town.
In fact, a few of our Ambassadors know what it feels like to move to a new community, because they relocated to Marmora and Lake themselves.
You don’t have to be new to Marmora to use the program. It’s open to everyone.
Want to connect? Check out the Community Ambassador program here: Community Ambassador Program — Municipality of Marmora and Lake
Simply fill out the form and one of our Ambassadors will be in touch.
Check out Hastings County’s “I Left the City” podcast to learn more about Marmora’s Community Ambassador program.
Hastings County: Invest In Hastings
Why Invest in Hastings?
Hastings County offers a prime location between Toronto and Ottawa, with direct access to Highway 401, rail lines, and modern telecommunications. With available commercial and industrial lands, the region is ideal for business expansion.
Our strong forestry sector supports opportunities like biomass energy, while a thriving year-round tourism industry creates demand for new hospitality developments. Hastings is also a top destination for retirees, making private retirement communities a smart investment.
Whether you're looking at energy, tourism, or senior living, Hastings County is ready for growth.