Sustainable Growth: Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank Open Applications for 2024 ScaleUP Program
PETERBOROUGH, ON – March 11, 2024 – The transformative advisory program developing entrepreneurs in our community looking to scale is returning this spring. Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) and Scotiabank are back with their partnership to present ScaleUP, a program designed to help local businesses grow.
“Business owners in the city and county continue to tell us they want access to tools and programs to support the growth of their operations,” says Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome back Scotiabank as a partner to bring this program to entrepreneurs in our community.”
The ScaleUP program was first piloted by CFP in 2022 and successfully supported the scaling of six local women-led businesses. This past fall, Scotiabank joined Community Futures to present a redesigned ScaleUP program, attracting dozens of applicants. Thanks to the renewed partnership with Scotiabank, ScaleUP is now welcoming another cohort of entrepreneurs this spring for a revamped program focusing on building a business plan for sustainable growth.
“We’re proud to be partnering with Community Futures Peterborough to continue supporting ScaleUP, says Chris Skinner, District Vice President in Ontario Central East. “It’s a program that closely connects with our own values, supporting our community by empowering entrepreneurs to grow their business and reach their goals.”
The ScaleUP program was first piloted by CFP in 2022 and successfully supported the scaling of 6 local women-led businesses. This past fall, Scotiabank joined Community Futures to present a redesigned ScaleUP program – attracting dozens of applicants for the spaces. Thanks to the renewed partnership with Scotiabank, ScaleUP is now open to welcome another cohort of entrepreneurs this spring for a revamped program focussing on building a business plan for sustainable growth.
The 2024 cohort of entrepreneurs will once again be led by Diane Richard, a seasoned industry consultant, and a team of regional experts. They will learn in a mix of classroom sessions and, crucially, one-on-one strategic consultations tailored to their unique growth opportunities. The cohort will delve into crucial areas such as expansion planning, setting KPI’s and strategic goals, people management, personal leadership, and financial management. The program will finish with a tailor-made growth plan for sustainable expansion.
“Investing in programs, like ScaleUP, will provide the support and resources to entrepreneurs in rural communities that will support them as they scale-up, grow and thrive. Our Government’s commitment to the Community Futures Program has helped pave the way for economic growth in southern Ontario’s rural communities,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Applications for the 2024 ScaleUP program are open to businesses located within Peterborough City or County. Interested entrepreneurs can apply via the Community Futures Peterborough website today.
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 $41 million in 1,200+ 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.
About FedDev Ontario
For 14 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 pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, 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 Contact:
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