Community Futures is a community driven economic renewal initiative, assisting communities in rural Canada to develop and implement innovative strategies for dealing with a changing economic environment. At the heart of the Community Futures approach is a firm belief that local decision making is the key to enabling communities to shape their futures.

Established in 1986 by Employment and Immigration Canada (now named Human Resources Development Canada) Community Futures has been responsible for establishing 90 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) throughout rural western Canada. In 1995, responsibility for Community Futures was transferred to Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). Today, with core funding assistance provided by WD, the CFDCs in western Canada are actively engaged in a wide array of community economic development (CED) activities in their respective regions.

Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) provide their communities with a variety of services including business development loans, technical support, training, and information. In addition to the business development component, CFDCs involve themselves in a wide array of community initiatives, including strategic planning processes, research and feasibility studies, and the implementation of a diverse range of community economic development projects.