Starter Company Plus Program Provide $39,000 In Grants to Eight Local Small Businesses

Eight local small businesses were given micro-grants of $39,000 combined from the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) to help support sustainable business growth in a cheque presentation at the Venture North Building on Thursday.

(Top) Madeleine Hurrell, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre; (Middle left to right) Cody Lewis, Mackenzie Caldwell, Meaghan Kynock, Katie Jackson (Bottom left to right) Iola Taylor, Sara Scheuermann, Jordan Lyall, Joe Crowley. Since its launch in 2017, the Starter Company Plus program through the BAC has assisted over 230 entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. These small businesses have created over 220 jobs in the local economy. Photo courtesy of PKED.

The funding was through the provincial government’s Starter Company Plus program.

Twelve small business entrepreneurs completed the five-week full-day business training course the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (BAC) offered. According to PKED, based on the strength of their business plan, cashflow forecast, and business pitch, the following businesses were each awarded a micro-grant of up to $5,000:

• Iola Taylor – Cold Duck Creamery, City of Peterborough

• Joe and Liz Crowley – Crowley Acres, Township of Otonabee South-Monaghan

• Sara Scheuermann – Steaped Slow Ceramics, City of Peterborough

• Katie Jackson – Wanderlight Luxury Farm Stay, Douro-Dummer Township

• Jordan Lyall – Jordan Lyall Photography, City of Peterborough

• Cody Lewis – Cody Lewis Carpentry, City of Peterborough

• Meg Kynock – muttmixx, Township of Havelock Belmont-Methuen

• Mackenzie Caldwell – Grace&Glow Beauty Studio, City of Peterborough

“Now in its tenth intake, the Starter Company Plus program has directly contributed to the growth and development of small businesses in Peterborough & the Kawarthas,” said Madeleine Hurrell, Business Advisory Centre (BAC) manager. “Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development understands how critically important our small business sector is to our local economy; these businesses support our workforce, attract visitors and invest back into the community.”

As part of the Starter Company Plus program, all participants receive ongoing business support from the BAC to stimulate growth and scale their businesses. They are also pre-conditionally approved for a micro-loan through partner agency Community Futures Peterborough. They will receive a complimentary six-month trial to the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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Seven Local Businesses Awarded Microgrants Through Starter Company Plus Program

Seven local entrepreneurs were awarded microgrants through the highly competitive spring intake of the Starter Company Plus program on Thursday.

photo courtesy of starter company plus.

This intake saw the highest number of applications so far for the program run by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and funded through the Government of Ontario.

Twelve small businesses successfully completed the five-week business training course offered by the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre. The following businesses were awarded a microgrant based on the strength of their business plan and pitch:

• Jack Henry: OmniWorx Design, Peterborough, ON

• Kate Adams: Kate L. Toms Fit, Peterborough, ON

• Michelle Fenn and Kendra Mancini: Working Human, Peterborough, ON

• Tavlyn Evans and Crystal Walker: Sage Beauty, Peterborough, ON

• Brigh Findlay-Shields: Brisa Social, Millbrook, ON

• Sean Fitzpatrick and Andrew Fitzpatrick: Take Cover Books, Peterborough, ON

• Erin Burrell: EB Aquatics, Otonabee, ON

“We are incredibly proud of this program and the support it provides local small businesses,” said Madeleine Hurrell, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre. “The number of applications we received this round surpassed pre-Covid-19 levels and was one of our most competitive intakes.”

Since its launch in 2017, the Starter Company Plus program through the BAC has assisted over 230 local entrepreneurs and more than 186 small businesses. These businesses have created over 220 jobs in our local economy.

To stay up to date on programs and workshops, visit the website.

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Spring Intake Applications Open For Starter Company Plus Program

This spring, aspiring and established entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas can make their business ideas a reality with the Starter Company Plus Program.

photo courtesy of invest ptbo

Starter Company Plus is designed to provide business training for entrepreneurs in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County who are launching or expanding a business that has been operating for 5 years or less. The program provides one-on-one consultations with the program facilitator and in-person/virtual training with experts who guide entrepreneurs through writing a business plan.

“For many, 2023 is a year where individuals are looking to take something they may have been operating on the side or a passion project developed throughout the pandemic and turn that business into a reality. This is a comprehensive self-employment training program that sets entrepreneurs up for long-term success,” says Madeleine Hurrell, manager of the Business Advisory Centre.

The Starter Company Plus program has supported numerous businesses to grow from early-stage startup to retail enterprise and to grow their teams, product lines and marketing channels.

“Participants who successfully complete the program and submit a final business plan and pitch to our panel of judges have an opportunity to receive one of six $5,000 micro-grants to start or grow their business,” continue Hurrell.

Since its launch in 2017, the Starter Company Plus program, delivered by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s Business Advisory Centre, has assisted over 215 local entrepreneurs and more than 174 small businesses. These small businesses have created over 200 jobs in the local economy.

Applications close on April 30, and applicants can learn more about the program and apply online.

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Six Local Businesses Awarded $5,000 Each Through Peterborough and The Kawarthas Economic Development Starter Company Plus Program

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) awarded six local small businesses $5,000 each in funding to further support sustainable business growth, on Thursday.

The funding is made possible through the Government of Ontario’s Starter Company Plus program.

Sixteen entrepreneurs operating 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 pitch, the following six businesses were each awarded a micro-grant:

• Angela McDonald: The Florest, Peterborough, ON – A local florist born out of a love for the outdoors and natural beauty offering fresh-cut flower bouquets with a selection of quality blooms.

• Brad Carson: Toureka!, Peterborough, ON – a mobile app and web-based platform that allows organizations of any size to offer their event-based tours in a brand-new way.

• Caitlin Smith: ReCreate Space, Peterborough, ON – a professional organizing company helping residents and small businesses of Peterborough & the Kawarthas get more organized.

• Dreda Blow and Bruno Merz: Showmakers Ptbo, Peterborough, ON - a musical theatre program for children all about making a SHOW!

• Lynda Todd: Vision Imports Ltd, Peterborough, ON – Manufacturer and distributor of keyboards and mice that can be disinfected and cleaned.

• Patrick and Deanna Leahy: Leahy Farm (final name TBD), Douro-Dummer, ON – A family farm that offers flavourful, top-grade, locally processed meat (beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey), as well as eggs from pasture-raised hens. Environmental sustainability and animal quality of life are priorities to The Leahy’s.

“We had a wide variety of businesses in the program this time around. From farm businesses to technology-based start-ups, the participants were able to learn from each other throughout the workshops.” said Entrepreneurship Officer Hillary Manion, who oversees the program for PKED. “In Peterborough & the Kawarthas, we are lucky to have thriving and growing small businesses. We have seen our communities rally around these entrepreneurs. 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.”

Since its launch in 2017, the Starter Company Plus program through the BAC has assisted over 190 local entrepreneurs and over 150 small businesses. These small businesses have created over 190 jobs in our local economy.

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.peterboroughed.ca/BAC.

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Peterborough Economic Development Launches New Program For Entrepreneurs

Peterborough Economic Development (PED) has launched Starter Company Plus, a new program funded by the Government of Ontario that will support entrepreneurs as they start and expand their businesses in Peterborough & the Kawarthas.

The Starter Company Plus program will support all entrepreneurs over 18 who are out of school and looking to pursue full-time entrepreneurship. This program has been designed to support business start-ups and expansions for companies under 5 years old.

PED's Start and Grow Fair at Lansdowne Place Sunday, March 5th, where announcement was made about Starter Company Plus Program

The program builds on the success of the B.L.A.S.T. Pilot Program that was created and administered by Peterborough Economic Development’s Business Advisory Centre last year, as well as the previous iteration of Starter Company that was geared at youth ages 18-29.

“This program will provide entrepreneurs in Peterborough & the Kawarthas with the tools and tangible takeaways that they need to succeed in business,” says Peterborough Economic Development’s Director of Business Development, Suzanne McCrimmon. “The training will focus on business planning fundamentals—including financial literacy, operations and market research.”

Crowd gathered at Start & Grow Fair for announcement of Starter Company Plus program

Upon completion of the training program for each intake period, participants will have the opportunity to submit their business plan and compete for one of seven micro-grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. These grants will be awarded based on merit and announced at an event hosted by Peterborough Economic Development.

There will be three intakes to the Starter Company Plus program in 2017. March 31st is the application deadline for the first intake. Those interested in applying are encouraged to attend a “Starting Point” workshop taking place every Monday in March at Peterborough Economic Development’s office at 210 Wolfe Street from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For full details on the Starter Company Plus program, go here.

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