Community Futures Peterborough and Launch Limited-Edition SOAR Series For Established Businesses Looking to Expand

Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) and the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) have launched SOAR, a brand new, cohort program designed for established businesses that are ready to expand or scale their operations.

Photo courtesy of CFP.

“This is a direct response to the gaps we’ve consistently seen in our local businesses while operating the Business Advisory Centre for the past year,” said Rose Terry, BAC manager. “Existing businesses often hit a ceiling without access to tailored, expert support and guidance. We have been offering this in our one-on-one consultations, but the SOAR Series bridges that gap, offering high-impact, cohorted, practical training to help businesses in our region thrive and lead.”

With limited spots available each month, business owners can now apply to be accepted into individual cohorts. Successful applicants will gain access to expert-led workshops tailored to the challenges and opportunities that growing businesses face. The SOAR Series will equip participants with real-world next steps and strategic direction to stay competitive and expand in an evolving market.

The free series begins this September and runs for four months. It will provide successful applicants with access to in-depth, specialized programming delivered by external consultants and CF Peterborough staff according to CFP.

Each month in the Fall this year, SOAR will focus on a critical area of business development identified by the needs of businesses in our community.

“Community Futures continues to demonstrate that the best ways for businesses to succeed is to build relationships and leverage the experience and knowledge of others.  Today’s announcement about the SOAR program is another example of building on that collaborative philosophy as a way to improve the business acumen of many of the entrepreneurs and job creators in our region,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

Businesses may apply for as many months as they feel they require support in:

September – Marketing Mastery and Pitching for Growth

These four sessions will feature interactive workshops led by marketing, branding, and communication experts, including Rosalea Terry, Erika Eileen, and Kyle MacDonald, each bringing unique perspectives and toolkits to help entrepreneurs craft and communicate their story with impact.

October – Business Development and Sales

These sessions will be led by Jason Fiorotto, a highly successful marketing and sales leader with over 25 years of experience working with companies ranging from private equity-backed startups to Fortune 50 global brands. This cohort will focus on building the systems and strategies that drive consistent revenue growth.  Business owners will learn how to identify and qualify leads, strengthen their sales conversations, and close deals with confidence. These sessions will also explore how to build a sustainable business development pipeline that supports long-term growth and scalability.

November – Cross-Border Expansion and E-Commerce

For companies looking to expand into new provinces or sell across international borders, these sessions will help to master the logistics, digital tools, and market entry strategies required for expansive growth. Business owners will also learn how to optimize their e-commerce presence, from choosing the right platforms to navigating shipping, compliance, and customer experience across borders.

December – Selling, Acquiring, and Succession Planning

These sessions will focus on covering the key aspects of transitioning a business, whether through sale, purchase, or succession. Led by business succession planning experts Michael Riseley and Nicole Truman, they will encompass all aspects of a business transition, including valuation, sale, acquisition, and succession. Businesses will learn how to transition in a tax-efficient manner and hear about various transition strategies applicable to a range of diverse businesses.

The SOAR Series is open to businesses located in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County, including Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation. The sessions will rotate across locations to ensure inclusive access for both urban and rural entrepreneurs.

“This is more than a business program, it’s an economic development catalyst,” said Devon Girard, CFP executive director. “The SOAR Series will empower our existing businesses to grow stronger roots locally while receiving expert, customized advice to help them meet their expansion goals. We are so excited to bring this program to our community and help our businesses soar.”

With a partnership with Scotiabank, the SOAR program is available free of charge to all successful applicants.

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