Business Advisory Centre Celebrates Two Years of Helping Local Entrepreneurs Succeed

By Scott Arnold

Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre has supported 546 businesses, helped launch 227 new businesses and contributed to the creation of 414 jobs since opening in 2024.

Community Futures Peterborough is celebrating two years of its Business Advisory Centre, which has supported 546 businesses and helped create 414 jobs across the region since 2024. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

Two years after opening its doors, the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) is celebrating a successful start, surpassing provincial consultation targets by 301% in the 2025/26 fiscal year while helping entrepreneurs across Peterborough and the surrounding region start and grow their businesses.

Operated by Community Futures Peterborough, the centre provides business advice, workshops, mentorship and access to funding programs for entrepreneurs in the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County, Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation.

Since launching in 2024, the centre has responded to 1,702 inquiries and delivered 1,047 in-depth consultations, supporting 546 unique businesses. More than half of those businesses were start-ups, while the remainder were established businesses looking to grow.

The support has helped entrepreneurs launch 227 new businesses, sustain or expand 336 businesses, complete 10 business acquisitions and create 414 jobs.

The centre also offers free, in-person workshops covering a wide range of business topics. Over the past two years, it has delivered 115 workshops, attracting 1,769 participants.

Funding Programs Help Turn Ideas Into Businesses

Two provincially funded programs, Starter Company Plus and Summer Company, have also seen record participation.

Together, the programs have provided $214,000 in grants to entrepreneurs across the region.

Through Starter Company Plus, 41 entrepreneurs graduated from two program cohorts, receiving $178,000 in grants. Their achievements included launching 20 new businesses, expanding 35 businesses and creating 78 jobs.

Summer Company awarded $36,000 to 12 student-run businesses, helping create 23 jobs while encouraging young entrepreneurs to consider business ownership as a future career.

The centre also runs SOAR, a program supporting established businesses with growth, expansion and long-term sustainability. Over the past two years, 42 businesses have participated.

Ongoing Support for Local Businesses

Rather than offering one-time advice, the Business Advisory Centre works to build ongoing relationships with entrepreneurs as their needs change, whether they are developing an idea, working through challenges or planning their next stage of growth.

“We’re incredibly proud of what the team and the businesses we support have accomplished in just two years,” says Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “But the numbers are only part of the story. Every consultation represents a person taking a risk, pursuing an idea, creating something new or trying to make their business better.”

As the centre enters its third year, it plans to continue expanding access to business support and responding to the needs of entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Community Futures Peterborough is a not-for-profit organization that has supported local small businesses through financing since 1985, investing more than $44 million in over 1,900 businesses and helping create or maintain more than 4,900 jobs.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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