Community Futures Peterborough Launches New Advisory Suite to Support Local Entrepreneurs
Community Futures Peterborough Launches New Advisory Suite to Support Local Entrepreneurs
Peterborough, ON – January 27, 2025 – The Business Advisory Centre and Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) are proud to announce the official launch of its new Advisory Suite, located in the renovated basement level of the Venture North building. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Community Futures Peterborough’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, providing enhanced business resources, and creating a vibrant hub for local economic growth.
The Advisory Suite offers a fully furnished, professional space designed to meet the evolving needs of entrepreneurs in Peterborough City and County. With a state-of-the-art meeting room, a 360-degree camera device for integrated meetings and virtual workshops, a collaborative workspace, and a dedicated confidential advisory area, the new Suite aims to be a cornerstone of support for the local business community.
“The new Advisory Suite at the Business Advisory Centre will be more than just a meeting space; it’s a haven for creativity, ingenuity, and problem-solving,” says Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre. “Here, we are dedicated to walking alongside entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey—whether starting, growing, or scaling their businesses. This unique expansion of our offices at Venture North are designed to inspire and motivate. It will act as a resource hub with the support needed to turn visions into reality.”
Community Futures Peterborough expanded in 2024 to meet the growing needs of the local entrepreneurial community. With the addition of the new Business Advisory Centre, the current office has been bursting at the seams, driven by increased demand with hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners interested in support services, the addition of two new expert staff, and the introduction of new multiple new programs.
“We are very excited for Community Futures Peterborough and what this addition will do to help them improve the small business ecosystem in Peterborough,” says Paul Bennett, Ashburnham Realty owner.
This expansion alleviates the space constraints and enhances CFP’s capacity to deliver tailored support and resources to a rapidly growing number of entrepreneur clients.
“The Suite reflects our mission to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing them with the advisory services, business programs, and environment they need to succeed,” said Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “It enhances our ability to offer one-on-one guidance and creates a dedicated workshop space allowing for increased collaboration among local business owners.”
The Suite is strategically designed to foster connectivity and accessibility, offering an ideal venue for small workshops, meetings, and mentoring sessions. Now, expert business advisors, Terry, and Irwin, have dedicated advisory space.
“We’ve been inundated with business owners, each with unique ideas, hopes, and dreams for their businesses,” says Business Advisor at the Business Advisory Centre Lindsey Irwin. “This space gives them the chance to speak freely and confidentially, fostering genuine conversations and meaningful support.”
By creating more room for collaboration, advisory services, and program delivery, CFP reaffirms its commitment to fostering economic growth and business advisory services in the region.
Community Futures Peterborough is poised for significant growth in 2025, leveraging its proven expertise and visionary leadership to drive unparalleled opportunities for entrepreneurs and strengthen the region’s economic landscape.
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