Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre Launch Limited-Edition SOAR Series for Established Businesses Looking to Expand

July 15, 2025 – Peterborough, ON – Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) and the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) are proud to partner with Scotiabank to announce the launch of SOAR, a brand new, cohort program designed for established businesses that are ready to expand or scale their operations.

“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, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications. “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.

“We’re excited to renew our partnership with Community Futures Peterborough in support of SOAR,” says Chris Skinner, District Vice President for Ontario Central East. “This program aligns strongly with Scotiabank’s commitment to fostering local entrepreneurship and empowering business owners to achieve their goals.”

The free SOAR Series will begin this September and run for four months. It will provide successful applicants with access to in-depth, specialized programming delivered by external consultants and CF Peterborough staff.

“Our government’s investment in Community Futures Peterborough will drive meaningful change in the Southern Ontario and Canadian economy by supporting local businesses that are ready to scale up. We are creating new jobs and supporting entrepreneurs with a partnership between government funding and private-sector expertise,” said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Each month in the Fall of 2025, SOAR will focus on a critical area of business development that has been determined by the needs of businesses we are seeing 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, Member of Provincial Parliament, Peterborough – Kawartha.

This kind of support is crucial with over ninety-five percent of businesses in Canada identifying as small businesses, and according to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, rural small businesses are growing faster than their urban counterparts in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Yet, many rural entrepreneurs report facing barriers to growth, including limited access to mentorship and specialized training. In Ontario, nearly one in five rural small businesses cite a lack of strategic guidance as a top obstacle to expansion. The SOAR Series is designed to close that gap, giving business owners in the region the tools they need to not only sustain but grow, leading to job creation and opportunity for the community.

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

September 2025 – Marketing Mastery and Pitch Perfect

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 2025 – Business Development, Networking and Sales Accelerator

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 2025 – 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 2025 – Selling, Acquiring, and Succession Planning

These sessions will focus on covering the key aspects of transitioning a business, whether through sale, purchase, or succession. They will be led by business succession planning experts Michael Riseley and Nicole Truman and will focus on all aspects of a business transition, including valuation, sale, acquisition, and succession. Businesses will learn how to transition in tax-efficient ways and hear about various transition strategies for 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 urban and rural entrepreneurs alike.

“This is more than a business program, it’s an economic development catalyst,” said Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “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.”

Thanks to a partnership with Scotiabank, the SOAR program is free to all successful applicants. Businesses are encouraged to apply early due to the limited cohort sizes. For more information or to apply, https://communityfuturespeterborough.ca/programs/soar/

Media Contact:

Devon Girard, Executive Director

Community Futures Peterborough

Mobile: 705-957-3641

devon@cfpeterborough.ca

Sofia Ouslis

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Innovation and Federal Economic Development of Southern Ontario

343-542-0152

sofia.ouslis@ised-isde.gc.ca