Community Futures Peterborough has marked a significant achievement with the completion of its first-ever Starter Company Plus Program, featuring the largest cohort in the history of Peterborough City and County. A total of 21 businesses participated, with $89,000 in microgrant funding awarded to help entrepreneurs launch and expand their ventures.
The Starter Company Plus Program, designed to support new and growing businesses, offered participants a comprehensive series of workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The program’s participants also received a free six-month membership from the Peterborough Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and the opportunity to apply for a pre-approved microloan of up to $20,000 from Community Futures Peterborough.
The program was funded by the Government of Ontario and is part of a province-wide initiative. Locally, the program’s success highlights the support provided by the Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough, which caters to entrepreneurs across various industries, including retail, food and beverage, and services.
Participants celebrated their progress throughout the program, including gaining key business skills, such as developing business plans, marketing strategies, and financial management tools.
The businesses participating in this year’s Starter Company Plus Program are:
- Davis Orchards, Kerrie Davis – Douro-Dummer
- Duff Acres, Chris Duff & Ashley Foreman – Otonabee South Monaghan
- EmpowerMind Coaching, Amanda Slade – City of Peterborough
- Hair Apothecary, Jennifer Ducker – City of Peterborough
- Hanoi House, Susan Tung – City of Peterborough
- Heather’s Holistics, Heather Litster City of Peterborough
- High Spring Trading Post, Deborah Howarth – Havelock-Belmont-Methuen
- Jodi-Lee Nutrition & Wellness, Jodi Forestell – Trent Lakes
- Kayla Le Franc Photo, Kayla Le Franc – Otonabee South Monaghan
- Love you, Mean it. Ltd., Owen Walsh & Sam Sayer – City of Peterborough
- On Point Custom Catering, Elena Thomas – City of Peterborough
- Pies by Zach, Zach Washburn – City of Peterborough
- Scooter Heating & Air, Jamie Seed-Binnie – City of Peterborough
- Showbile Media, John Stewart – Cavan Monaghan
- Smash Courts, Jody Allen – City of Peterborough
- Stormlight Engineering, Adam Atkinson – City of Peterborough
- Summer Soul Yoga & Wellness, Ashley Woollacott – City of Peterborough
- Tailored Together, Taylor Wilkes – City of Peterborough
- T-Elle Boutique by VSL, Shaoling Victoria Wang – City of Peterborough
- The Doggery, Tiffany Lennox – City of Peterborough
- TE Media & Design, Emily Berardi & Tara Mansfield – City of Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough continues to support small businesses through various programs, having invested over $42 million in 1,300+ businesses since 1985, fostering job creation and economic growth in the region.
For more information on the Starter Company Plus Program, visit cfpeterborough.ca.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
