Dear Cheese Enthusiasts,

As 2010 draws to a close, we will not rest on our laurels but press on into 2011. The past few months have been really successful since we took the time to do extensive research and strategically plan for the road ahead. In other words, you don’t build a house without a plan in place.

In that sense, the past few months are actually the first in this new award winning venture and we are just now beginning to get momentum and attract attention. Investment is now starting to happen.

In this short time we have, however, had several accomplishments, namely:

- Developed the first comprehensive hand-book for starting an artisan cheese making facility (soon launched as an iPad app)

- Attracted the first Great Canadian Cheese Festival to our region which will draw in thousands of people and dollars

- Won a Marketing Award in Quebec City for www.investincheese.ca

- Two entrepreneurs are now choosing to host one of their successful Craft Beer festivals in our region (beer pairs well with cheese)

- More than 100 enquiries about cheese making have been handled – but they wouldn’t be knocking on our door without this initiative

- Right now one of our County partners is coaching a local entrepreneur wanting to start an artisan cheese making operation after visiting a booth we had at a local show

This initiative is a catalyst putting our region on the map as Ontario’s Artisan Cheese Region! Cheers to another successful year in 2011!