Seven Small Businesses Awarded Grants Through Starter Company Pus
This afternoon, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre announced $28,000 in funding to support local entrepreneurs with their business growth.
This announcement of funding is for participants in the sixth intake of Starter Company Plus, a Government of Ontario funded program. This program, which has been running since March 2017, supports entrepreneurs in starting, growing or acquiring a business, offering a robust series of workshops to support the creation of a formalized business plan, culminating in the chance to pitch for competitive grant dollars. This intake’s grant recipients are:
| Entrepreneur | Business | About This Business |
|---|---|---|
| Fraser Smith | F Smith Consulting: Sustainable Forest Management Service | Sustainable and ethical forest management services for conservation authorities, local governments, land trusts, woodlot owners, and primary and secondary forest producers. |
| Carly Eagles | Sweet Simple Nutrition | Holistic nutrition consulting practice specializing in women’s wellness. This business integrates a holistic approach to wellness to help individuals discover optimal health through lifestyle adaptations. |
| Caitlin Jacobs | Conflict Transformations | A consultancy serving workplaces and other organizations in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. This business helps clients understand conflict, how to work towards transformation, collaboration and creative problem solving. |
| Vanessa Brown | Direct Visual Care | A local mobile optician that supports vision care needs. From pop-up clinics to personal one-on-one house calls, this business offers professional, personal and affordable service to correct your vision accurately. |
| Hillary Flood | PedalBoro | A multi-passenger bike tour company providing an innovative, eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring downtown Peterborough. PedalBoro takes passengers on a discovery tour of the City’s vibrant food scene. |
| Jenn Austin-Driver | Farmhill Weddings | A non-traditional wedding venue located in Keene, on the rolling hills of Millen + Smith Acres. The focus is on providing a scenic farm experience, with fantastic local farm-to-table menu options. |
| Jordan Ahee | Biosphere GPS | A startup software company that makes it easy to explore nature, discover new places and plan outdoor activities more intelligently. |
“This program is generating results for our community and strengthening our region as a destination for small business,” explains Madeleine Hurrell, the Economic Development Officer who oversees the Starter Company Plus program. “Since this program began in March 2017, we have seen over 100 participants go through the program, with $170,000 grant dollars announced.
This program has been a key stepping stone for businesses and entrepreneurs looking to grow in the region and in the past two years have resulted in the creation of 53 startups and supported 37 business expansions. The program has also seen the opening of 12 bricks-and-mortar locations in the region, and has created 110 jobs in the local community.