While the six local entrepreneurs who recently graduated from Community Futures Peterborough’s ScaleUP program are now equipped with the knowledge and confidence to grow their businesses sustainably, it’s the entire community that could benefit.
So says Nolan Frazer, Ontario Central East Small Business Development Manager at Scotiabank, which has partnered with Community Futures Peterborough to deliver the program.
“In Peterborough, the impact of the ScaleUP program extends beyond the participating entrepreneurs,” Frazer explains. “It strengthens the local economy, which in turn attracts talent and fosters a vibrant local business community.”
This year’s ScaleUP program, which saw participants engaged in both in-class sessions and strategic one-on-one consultations, marked the second year of the partnership between Community Futures Peterborough and Scotiabank.
“The guidance provided in the ScaleUP program aligns with Scotiabank’s values of providing trusted advice to support business growth, financial literacy, and community engagement,” says Frazer. “The program reflects our commitment to clients, community development, and economic growth.”
This year, the businesses supported by the ScaleUP program ranged from a coffee shop to a design and marketing company and even a non-profit. The six graduates were Clint Clarke of Barking Pixel Design Co., Tracy Cosburn of Kyoto Coffee, Sean Flanagan of Flanagan and Sun, Debra Ragbar of Kawartha Spice Company, Alicia Doris of Living Local Marketplace, and Jacob Rodenburg of Camp Kawartha.
“This year’s cohort was full of dedicated business owners who took the commitment to both the classroom sessions and the one-on-one individualized sessions really seriously,” says Devon Girard, executive director of Community Futures Peterborough. “They were able to see the value that can come out of having expert advice given to them.”
First piloted in 2022, the program arose when Community Futures Peterborough identified a lack of existing support and programming for established small businesses that were looking to expand.
“In our community, and arguably in most communities, a lot of resources and programming is geared around business startups,” Girard says, noting there were fewer resources dedicated to businesses that had already been operating for a few years.
“We really wanted to take a deeper dive into areas that traditionally economic development agencies don’t cover, and focus on growing and improving business operation skills past that startup phase.”
Supporting the continued growth of small businesses is important to Scotiabank as well, according to Frazer.
“Scaling programs are crucial for economic development as they help businesses grow, create jobs, and stimulate local economies,” he says. “It fosters innovation and strengthens the economic fabric of the community.”
Frazer adds that investing in the communities that Scotiabank serves has been a “fundamental” part of the financial institution’s culture for over 190 years.
“It’s important that everyone has the ability to not only recover from times of uncertainty, but instead rise from them stronger than before,” he says. “Building economic resilience is about helping individuals, households, communities, and economies to thrive. Investing in programs like ScaleUP ensures that we are working together to remove barriers to advancement and increase access to opportunities, so we can create a more inclusive and resilient world.”
Over the five months of the ScaleUP program, each of the participants received focused support, expert insights, and began developing a customized growth plan — whether by increasing their number of employees, establishing additional locations, or expanding market reach.
“The tools and knowledge gained in the ScaleUP program are versatile and can be applied across various sectors,” says Frazer. “They help entrepreneurs with strategic planning, financial management, marketing, and operational efficiency, which are essential for any business. The program’s one-on-one support ensures that advice is customized to each business’s specific needs, making it universally beneficial.”
For Clint Clarke, co-founder of Peterborough-based Barking Pixel Design Co. alongside Kerry Brennan, the accessibility of the ScaleUP program was particularly attractive, as many small business owners are so busy they often don’t have the time to think about the future of their business, despite the necessity of such planning.
“It’s also about taking a deeper dive at the KPIs (key performance indicators) of your business and looking back at yourself and how far you’ve come, while self-analyzing your business more than just in the day-to-day,” Clarke explains, noting how essential it is for all small businesses to look ahead. “That part is quite challenging.”
Not lost on Clarke is just how valuable the connections were that he made through participation in the ScaleUP program with the partners that launched the program and the other entrepreneurs taking part, including Diatom Consulting founder Diane Richard, who was lead advisor of the program.
“Diane has such a unique skillset and, with her background in manufacturing, localized chain management, and inventory, our local community is quite lucky to have her,” Girard says. “She’s different than the average business advisor and she’s able to help business owners in areas that are not traditionally taught when launching a business. It’s a great balance in how she can challenge business owners to think differently and bring in such a defined skill set to support them.”
As for Scotiabank’s involvement, the one-on-one external consulting offered through the ScaleUP program was made possible through the bank’s support.
“They have been a great partner to us,” Girard says. “Knowing the impact Scotiabank has been able to help provide to these entrepreneurs through one-on-one training is certainly something we don’t take for granted and that we’re really grateful for.”
Frazer notes that Scotiabank recognizes the economic benefits that can result when entrepreneurs have the knowledge and skills that help grow their small businesses.
“Supporting local small businesses in their scaling efforts can lead to broader economic development by creating jobs, increasing local spending, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship,” says Frazer. “Entrepreneurs often share their experience and support each other. By equipping a few business owners, the benefits can ripple throughout the local community, fostering a culture of mutual support and collaboration. This benefits the entire community by enhancing economic stability and growth.”
He adds that Scotiabank is eager to see how this year’s ScaleUP program graduates expand their businesses.
“We look forward to seeing the incredible impact it will have on the community when they leverage what they’ve learned, combined with their expertise and ambition, to expand their businesses,” Frazer says. “Their success will inspire others to join the program and foster a culture of entrepreneurship in the Peterborough community.”
For Girard, that was what Community Futures Peterborough ultimately had in mind when it revamped the ScaleUP program.
“A growing economy is great for all of us,” she says. “It’s something we should all collectively be celebrating.”
For more information about the ScaleUP program, including future opportunities to participate, visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca/scaleup.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Community Futures Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
