Seven Local Businesses Receive Starter Company Plus Grants

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) awarded seven local small businesses $5000 each in funding to further support sustainable business growth.

Spring 2022 Starter Company Plus Grant Recipients holding large cheque in the lobby of VentureNorth From left to right: Voula Halliday (The Flavour Fix Co.), Matt Anderson (Chemong City Greens), Julie Drain (Your Furever Friend Professional Pet Services), Lewis Park (East City Guitar Co.), Jessica Blair (Follow Me Photography), Jenish Odigineyev (Odigski Media). Missing: Dave Bourgeois (Drumlin Cycle) Photo by Luke Best.

Twelve small businesses successfully completed the five-week online business training course offered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (BAC). Based on the strength of their business plan and business pitch, the following businesses were each awarded a micro-grant:

·       Voula Halliday: The Flavour Fix Co., Peterborough, ON – Flavourful additions, including sprinkles, smears, slathers, dollops and spreads to transform your meals.

·       Matt Anderson: Chemong City Greens, Peterborough, ON – Organic micro-green grower and harvester; selling to restaurants and home consumers.

·       Jessica Blair: Follow Me Photography, Cavan-Monaghan, ON – Therapeutic photography service to capture and commemorate loved ones during the end phase of their lives.

·       Dave Bourgeois: Drumlin Cycle, Cavan-Monaghan, ON – Mobile bicycle repair and maintenance service for cyclists and commuter bicycles in Cavan-Monaghan township.

·       Julie Drain: Your Furever Friend Professional Pet Services, Douro-Dummer, ON – A registered veterinary technician offering dog training, behaviour programming and health support for the life of the pet.

·       Jenish Odigineyev: Odigski Media, Peterborough, ON – Videography services offering media shoots, full productions and editing services for program content, educational, and recruitment videos for businesses.

·       Lewis Park: East City Guitar Co., Peterborough, ON – Guitar manufacturing, repair and workshops located in East City.

“This intake of the Starter Company Plus program saw twelve businesses who launched and grew in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. As a result of a constantly changing economic and public health landscape, these new businesses have grown to be resilient and adaptive.,” said Entrepreneurship Officer Madeleine Hurrell, who oversees the program for PKED.

Since its launch in 2017, the Starter Company Plus program through the BAC has assisted over 203 local entrepreneurs and over 162 small businesses. These small businesses have created over 190 jobs in our local economy.

“In Peterborough & the Kawarthas, we are lucky to have thriving and growing small businesses. We have seen our communities rally around entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Starter Company Plus program is an opportunity for new start-ups and expanding businesses to access workshop training and one-on-one consultations with BAC Business Advisors and local guest speakers.”

The Starter Company Plus program is designed to provide business training for entrepreneurs from aspiring to experienced, aged 18 and over in the City and County of Peterborough who are launching a business or expanding an existing business (operating for five years or less). To stay up to date on programs and workshops offered by the BAC, visit www.investptbo.ca/bac.

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