2024 ScaleUP Program Announces Cohort of Graduated Businesses
PETERBOROUGH, ON – September 17, 2024 – A dynamic group of entrepreneurs committed to growing their operations in our community have successfully completed the 2024 ScaleUP program. This initiative, delivered in collaboration between Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank, has equipped these local business leaders with the strategic insights and tools necessary for accelerated growth.
“This dedicated group of ambitious business owners is now equipped with a customized expansion plan to grow and scale their operations,” says Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “We couldn’t be prouder to support their business journey, and we’re thrilled to see their sustainable growth plans put into action.”
The 2024 ScaleUP program was designed to address the evolving needs of regional entrepreneurs with the strategic tools required to make key decisions about how their business can scale. Whether the focus is on expanding the workforce, establishing additional locations, or diversifying their customer base, the program offers targeted support. This year’s cohort marked the second year of the partnership between Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank, with a shared commitment to serve local business owners looking to scale their operations.
“Scotiabank offers our heartfelt congratulations to the graduates of the ScaleUP program. The support this program offers to participants is aligned to the tailored advice we deliver to our clients as they look to grow and expand their business. We are proud to have partnered with Community Futures Peterborough in supporting entrepreneurs and businesses in the community,” says Chris Skinner, District Vice President of Ontario Central East.
Graduates of the fall cohort of the program include:
- Tracy Cosburn, Kyoto Coffee
- Alicia Doris, Living Local Marketplace
- Jacob Rodenburg, Camp Kawartha
- Debra Ragbar, Kawartha Spice Company
- Clint Clarke, Barking Pixel Design Co.
- Sean Flanagan, Flanagan and Sun
The 2024 ScaleUP cohort of entrepreneurs was led by Diane Richard, a seasoned industry consultant, and a team of regional experts. Over the past five months, the participants benefitted from a mix of classroom sessions and, crucially, one-on-one strategic consultations tailored to their unique growth opportunities. Each of today’s graduates is walking away with a customized growth plan, built for sustainable expansion of their business.
“Congratulations to the ScaleUP program graduates! Your hard work and dedication reflect your unwavering commitment to both your business and your community. Our government recognizes the value of rural economies and that is why we invested an additional $40 million into the 36 CFDCs so they can provide valuable programs, tools and resources to help rural businesses and entrepreneurs thrive,” says the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Scaling programs are crucial for businesses in the region as they provide the resources, mentorship, and strategic guidance needed to expand beyond their initial stages and achieve sustainable growth. ScaleUP is an essential piece of the regional ecosystem as it contributes to the regional economy by creating jobs, attracting investment, and making the community more vibrant and competitive.
About Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City and County of Peterborough. It has invested more than $42 million in 1,300+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,300 jobs in the City and the County. CFP is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Community Futures Program. In 2024, Community Futures Peterborough began delivery of the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program, funded by the Province of Ontario.
About FedDev Ontario
For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: “for every future”, we help our customers, their families, and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products, and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of over 90,000 employees and assets of over $1.3 trillion (as at April 30, 2023), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @Scotiabank
Media Contacts:
Devon Girard, Executive Director
Mobile: 705-957-3641
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca
BACKGROUNDER ON SCALEUP GRADUATES 2024
Clint Clarke, Barking Pixel Design Co.
Background: Barking Pixel Design is a creative services studio offering brand, design, and marketing solutions for print, web, and signage applications. Their team consists of Kerry Brennan and Clint Clarke, professional graphic designers each with 25+ years of experience respectively in the creative industry.
They work primarily with small and medium-sized businesses within Peterborough & The Kawarthas and throughout Southern Ontario. They work on behalf of their clients ensuring their visual communications, messages, and images meet the highest creative and production standards possible.
In addition to setting 5 key goals in their action plan, they also reflected on their skills and identified opportunities to redefine core roles.
Quote: “Start with a bookkeeper early, to ensure you stay on track with billing and taxes, as well as utilizing tools such as Quickbooks.” Clink Clarke, Barking Pixel Design Co.
Jacob Rodenburg, Camp Kawartha
Background: Camp Kawartha has been providing innovative outdoor and environmental experiences for children and youth for over 100 years. Through award-winning programs, strategic partnerships, and hands-on demonstrations of sustainable living, Camp Kawartha inspires environmental stewardship regionally, provincially, and internationally
Executive Director, Jacob Rodenburg’s goal is to be fully booked all year round, with every available date occupied by campers, students, and visitors. The extra business income would allow the organization to expand its reach, provide employees with a better wage, and enable them to upgrade their facilities to showcase additional sustainable features.
During the ScaleUP program, Jacob’s understanding of the importance of buy-in from all of the staff on the organization’s mission, vision, and future goals grew, and also asked for input from the employees in shaping their future.
Quote: “It is easy to become ensconced in our daily routines and continue to default to conventional ways of doing business. [ScaleUP] is a wonderful opportunity to take a higher-level view to rethink and recalibrate priorities and align them with market opportunities,” Jacob Rodenburg, Camp Kawartha.
Sean Flanagan, Flanagan and Sun
Background: Flanagan and Sun Inc. is a solar renewable energy business located in Buckhorn and has been operating in the community for over 20 years. The owner, Sean Flanagan, a certified photovoltaic technician, is passionate about the environment and making the world a better place.
One key business goal for Flanagan and Sun Inc is to increase revenues by 10 to 15% by growing their portfolio of commercial solar installations. To facilitate this growth they have hired two new key personnel. A key skill Sean refined during the program was being sensitive to the needs of his employees and working hard to ensure they are comfortable in their roles and contributing to the business in a meaningful and rewarding way.
Quote: “One of the most important skills I have from a business perspective is my resiliency; I can push forward despite obstacles that may be presented to the business,” Sean Flanagan, Flanagan and Sun.
Debra Ragbar, Kawartha Spice Co.
Background: Kawartha Spice Company Inc. manufactures spice blends and seasonings in Peterborough. All spices and herbs are non-GMO, vegan, and selected for their premium value. Each blend is gluten-free, and salt-free, and is carefully developed to ensure consumers have enjoyable, healthy, and easy-to-prepare meals.
Under the guidance of Diane Richard, Debra was able to implement a very workable 3-year business plan to successfully take Kawartha Spice Co. to the next level. She has every confidence that she will be able to use [this plan] for future growth. In addition, this program offered her key insights into ways she can increase revenues while at the same time lowering production costs.
Quote: “There is no need to compromise on sales – there are alternatives that I can implement to generate new sales,” says Debra Ragbar.
Tracy Cosburn, Kyoto Coffee
Background: Kyoto Coffee is a local company focusing on procuring, roasting, grinding, and selling premium coffee bean varieties. Kyoto Coffee carries a large selection of premium beans that have been carefully selected for their flavour profile, their organic and environmental credentials as well as their social footprint. This combination has been at the core of the success of the business for the past 20 years.
With the learnings from the ScaleUP program, Tracy was able to develop and implement a business plan for how she could streamline her sales and distribution channels transitioning to primarily wholesale.
Quote: “Going through this program gave me a reason not to look at all the competitive and financial pressures of being an entrepreneur. I remembered why I am so passionate about what I do,” says Tracy Cosburn, Kyoto Coffee.
Alicia Doris, Living Local Marketplace
Background: From its storefront on Chemong Road in Peterborough and through corporate gifting, Living Local shares the work of artisans and small businesses from as close to home as possible. They highlight and strive to support entrepreneurs and their families in Kawarthas-Northumberland and across Ontario. They offer completely customized gift baskets and boxes in-store and online and love sharing stories about the people behind the products.
One of Alicia’s key business goals entering this program was how to expand and grow her business. She was unclear on what approach to take, and what infrastructure to implement to support her growth. Through the courses and 1:1 sessions, she learned to take a balanced approach and refined her financial acumen.
Quote: “Starting this program with an “I don’t know what I don’t know” approach, allowed me to ask important questions and be open to working on facets of the business that I didn’t even know existed,” says Alicia Doris, Living Local Marketplace.