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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