21 Local Entrepreneurs Selected for Community Futures Peterborough’s First Cohort of The 2024 Starter Company Plus Program

Peterborough, ON – October 25, 2024 – Wrapping up Small Business Week 2024, Community Futures Peterborough is excited to announce it has selected 21 entrepreneurs for this year’s Starter Company Plus program. Upon successful completion of the program, the entrepreneurs will receive up to $5,000 in grant dollars towards the start and growth of their business.

The Starter Company Plus program is an important opportunity for new and expanding businesses in the region, providing the vital support and resources needed to fuel their growth and success. With expert advice, financial backing, and practical tools, this program not only helps entrepreneurs build strong foundations but also plays a key role in driving local economic development and job creation.

“The Starter Company Plus program is vital for aspiring entrepreneurs,” said Dave Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha. “Offering training, mentoring, and guidance, along with grants, will ensure individuals have the necessary support to expand their businesses, creating new opportunities to turn their ventures into successful enterprises,” MPP Smith added.

The selected businesses for 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

“Over the next 6 weeks, this talented group of entrepreneurs will receive expert advice in classroom style sessions tackling subjects such as creating a standout brand for their business and mastering their financials,” says Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “This revamped program has been specifically designed to support these entrepreneurs to successfully start and grow their businesses and we cannot wait to see them soar.”

Today’s announcement marks the end of Small Business Week 2024 which saw Community Futures Peterborough lead programming and events throughout the City and County to support our business community including:

• An event with the County of Peterborough to welcome business owners and leaders in the business community to our new satellite office in Lakefield and meet Peterborough County’s Economic Development team;
• The relaunch of the Business Advisory Centre’s Small Business Toolkit
• The Modern Entrepreneur Experience Day which consisted of workshops hosted by Community Futures Peterborough featuring topics like: Navigating City Hall with the City of Peterborough, Artificial Intelligence, Creative Business Strategies, and The Art of Business Confidence.

More information on upcoming events and programs supporting area businesses and entrepreneurs can be found on the Community Futures Peterborough website at www.cfpeterborough.ca

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. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and the County of Peterborough.

Media Contact:

Devon Girard, Executive Director
devon@cfpeterborough.ca

Cell: 705-957-3641