The SDE Thetford region was founded in the 1970s as a response to local economic needs and has since become the central agency for economic development in the Thetford area. Over more than four decades, it has continually adapted to shifting economic conditions and government frameworks. In the wake of the 2014 elimination of local development centers and subsequent budget cuts, the mayors of the Appalaches MRC unanimously reaffirmed in 2015 the importance of the SDE, renewing its long-standing mandate. In 2016, the SDE merged with Tourisme Région Thetford, uniting economic and tourism development under one roof. More recently, in late 2023, the Appalaches MRC moved to dissolve the SDE as an autonomous entity and integrate its functions directly into the MRC’s administration. This restructuring, effective in early 2024, preserved the SDE’s name and mission, ensuring continued support for entrepreneurs and the local community.
The SDE’s primary mission is to stimulate regional socio-economic development by guiding, supporting, and encouraging local entrepreneurship. It operates a multiservice one-stop center for business development, offering technical advice, business planning assistance, guidance toward financing sources, and personalized support at every project stage. Its overarching goals include fostering new entrepreneurs, diversifying the local industrial base (with an emphasis on supporting manufacturing SMEs), and promoting the growth of existing businesses as well as the development of new markets or products. The organization also plays a convening role, mobilizing stakeholders — including business leaders, municipal and government institutions, and financial partners — around strategic regional initiatives.
As the designated administrator of various public financial support programs, the SDE manages investment funds and business assistance measures for entrepreneurs and enterprises in the region. These programs aim to encourage new business startups and entrepreneurial succession, support industrial and manufacturing development, and provide tailored financial and technical services aligned with local business needs.
