Starter Company Plus program run by Community Futures Peterborough concludes with its largest-ever cohort

The program has wrapped up with 21 businesses in the City and County of Peterborough building connections and each receiving micro-grants up to $5,000

By Megan Gallant -
Published
Community Futures Peterborough's Business Advisory Centre Manager Rose Terry (middle with the blue jacket) with the fall 2024 graduating class of Starter Company Plus, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered for the first time by Community Futures Peterborough. Not only was this the program's largest cohort ever, representing 21 small businesses in the City and County of Peterborough, but each participant who completed the program received a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to grow their business. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Community Futures Peterborough's Business Advisory Centre Manager Rose Terry (middle with the blue jacket) with the fall 2024 graduating class of Starter Company Plus, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered for the first time by Community Futures Peterborough. Not only was this the program's largest cohort ever, representing 21 small businesses in the City and County of Peterborough, but each participant who completed the program received a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to grow their business. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

There is no such thing as an entrepreneur having too many connections in the communities they serve.

That’s good news for 21 recent graduates of the Starter Company Plus program, as each one has walked away from the program with new connections that can help them launch or grow their business — not to mention a micro-grant of up to $5,000 each.

The recent graduating class marked a milestone as the largest cohort ever in the City and County of Peterborough for the provincially funded entrepreneurial training program that was administered by Community Futures Peterborough’s new Business Advisory Centre (BAC) for the first time.

“Congratulations to all the participants of this year’s Starter Company Plus Program,” says Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith in a media release.

“Your dedication and hard work throughout this program are truly commendable. As you embark on this exciting journey of growth and innovation, remember that every significant achievement begins with the courage to take the first step. Here’s to your future success and the positive impact you will create in our community.”

Designed for both emerging and expanding businesses established within the last five years, the program had the entrepreneurs participating in a series of dynamic workshops and receiving personalized guidance from experienced local mentors over several weeks.

Kerrie Davis of Davis Orchards was one of the entrepreneurs who graduated from the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Davis has already connected with Pies by Zach, one of the other 21 local businesses that participated in the program, to provide catering services for an upcoming event at her Douro-Dummer farm. Using the grant she received through the program, Davis will be expanding her business by planting more fruit trees. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Kerrie Davis of Davis Orchards was one of the entrepreneurs who graduated from the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Davis has already connected with Pies by Zach, one of the other 21 local businesses that participated in the program, to provide catering services for an upcoming event at her Douro-Dummer farm. Using the grant she received through the program, Davis will be expanding her business by planting more fruit trees. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

The entrepreneurs who participated in the program operate 21 small businesses across a range of diverse sectors including agriculture, personal services, retail, hospitality, and more:

  • Kerrie Davis of Davis Orchards (Douro-Dummer)
  • Chris Duff and Ashley Foreman of Duff Acres (Otonabee South Monaghan)
  • Amanda Slade of EmpowerMind Coaching (City of Peterborough)
  • Jennifer Ducker of Hair Apothecary (City of Peterborough)
  • Susan Tung of Hanoi House (City of Peterborough)
  • Heather Litster of Heather’s Holistics (City of Peterborough)
  • Deborah Howarth of High Spring Trading Post (Havelock-Belmont-Methuen )
  • Jodi Forestell of Jodi-Lee Nutrition & Wellness (Trent Lakes)
  • Kayla Le Franc of Kayla Le Franc Photo (Otonabee-South Monaghan)
  • Owen Walsh and Sam Sayer of Love you, Mean it (City of Peterborough)
  • Elena Thomas of On Point Custom Catering (City of Peterborough)
  • Zach Washburn of Pies by Zach (City of Peterborough)
  • Jamie Seed-Binnie of Scooter Heating & Air (City of Peterborough))
  • John Stewart of Showbile Media (Cavan Monaghan)
  • Jody Allen of Smash Courts (City of Peterborough)
  • Adam Atkinson of Stormlight Engineering (City of Peterborough)
  • Ashley and Kevin Woollacott of Summer Soul Yoga & Wellness (City of Peterborough)
  • Taylor Wilkes of Tailored Together (City of Peterborough)
  • Shaoling Victoria Wang of T-Elle Boutique by VSL (City of Peterborough)
  • Tiffany Lennox of The Doggery (City of Peterborough)
  • Emily Berardi and Tara Mansfield of TE Media & Design (City of Peterborough)

“It’s critical for any potential business owner to know there is community support behind them, and there is belief in them, their business ideas, and their business plans,” says Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough.

“The excitement that we have generated in the Starter Company Plus program this fall shows the continued belief we have in the strength of our local economy and the people who are living in the City and County of Peterborough who want to start and grow their business.”

Otonabee South Monaghan photographer Kayla Le Franc making her pitch during the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Designed for both emerging and expanding businesses established within the last five years, the program had the entrepreneurs participating in a series of dynamic workshops and receiving personalized guidance from experienced local mentors over several weeks. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Otonabee South Monaghan photographer Kayla Le Franc making her pitch during the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Designed for both emerging and expanding businesses established within the last five years, the program had the entrepreneurs participating in a series of dynamic workshops and receiving personalized guidance from experienced local mentors over several weeks. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

With such a large group, and with each participant at a similar place in their business journey, there was ample opportunity for the entrepreneurs to make connections and learn about other businesses within the region.

“They’ve created this really incredible community,” says Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre. “A lot of them have started working together and collaborating with one another, whether to partner on a business event or to partner on a product.”

The outcomes of these connections for the participants are already coming to fruition, something that Girard believes is a major benefit of the program.

“The connections that are built into Starter Company Plus program far outweigh the value of the grant dollars that the participants received upon program completion,” Girard says.

For example, Kerrie Davis of the Douro-Dummer farm Davis Orchards is going to be hosting a tree-planting event that will include Zach Washburn’s Pies by Zach as a food vender, while Tiffany Lennox of The Doggery is now sourcing meat from Chris Duff and Ashley Foreman’s Duff Acres farm to use for her all-natural dog food products.

“We gained valuable knowledge in marketing strategies, financial planning, and made lasting connections with many other incredible local entrepreneurs,” says Duff.

Jodi Forestell of Jodi-Lee Nutrition and Wellness, on online business based in Buckhorn, was one of the entrepreneurs who participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Participants received guidance from the Community Futures Peterborough's Business Advisory Centre and local experts on business strategy, cash flow statements, financial support options, marketing and communications, and more. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Jodi Forestell of Jodi-Lee Nutrition and Wellness, on online business based in Buckhorn, was one of the entrepreneurs who participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Participants received guidance from the Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre and local experts on business strategy, cash flow statements, financial support options, marketing and communications, and more. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

With Terry leading the program, participants were supported by local experts including BAC Business Advisor Lindsay Irwin, Community Futures Peterborough Loan Manager Braden Clark, and Social Kat Media owner Kat Tepylo Murphy, who each focused on their own specialties and entrepreneurial experiences. Participants received guidance on business strategy, cash flow statements, financial support options, marketing and communications, as well as how to use creativity as a problem-solving technique.

“An important aspect of the program is the entrepreneurs actually get real-time feedback on their ideas and strategies and they then receive direction from our seasoned experts,” Terry explains. “A lot of the entrepreneurs are absolutely incredible at their service or product, but may not have a business background. Being able to take a four-week complimentary program where they really focus on the business side is going to move their business forward faster and more effectively than they would on their own.”

In addition to expert guidance and networking connections, participants received other supports including a six-month membership with the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, as well as a conditional pre-approved loan from Community Futures Peterborough.

Zach Washburn pitches his Peterborough-based business Pies by Zach during the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Using local and seasonal ingredients, Pies by Zach makes and caters authentic fire-cooked pizza. Washburn will use the Starter Company Plus grant he received to invest in upgrades and expand operations. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
Zach Washburn pitches his Peterborough-based business Pies by Zach during the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. Using local and seasonal ingredients, Pies by Zach makes and caters authentic fire-cooked pizza. Washburn will use the Starter Company Plus grant he received to invest in upgrades and expand operations. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

For the first time since the Starter Company Plus program has been delivered in the Peterborough area, every one of the participants who successfully completed the program was awarded a micro-grant up to $5,000.

“With the grant, we look forward to expanding our business and investing in new infrastructure to better care for our livestock,” Duff says adding their money will expand their pastures, add additional livestock, and improve the overall sustainability of the farm.

“Davis Orchards will use the dollars to expand operations to bring more fresh local fruit to more customers in 2025,” says Davis. “We are so excited to be planting even more apple, plum, and peach trees for the community and region to taste.”

Ashley and Kevin Woollacott of Summer Soul Yoga and Wellness has purchased new equipment to launch reformer Pilates classes, while Heather Litster of Heather’s Holistics will be bringing her menstrual education to more community members through online and in-person educational workshops.

As well as emerging small businesses, the Starter Company Plus program supports businesses established within the last five years. Susan Tung, owner of Peterborough's Hanoi House, a Vietnamese restaurant which opened in 2020, participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
As well as emerging small businesses, the Starter Company Plus program supports businesses established within the last five years. Susan Tung, owner of Peterborough’s Hanoi House, a Vietnamese restaurant which opened in 2020, participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

“These unique businesses play a vital role in supporting and improving our community by creating jobs, and reinvesting in products and services that enhance the quality of life for everyone,” says Terry. “We’re really excited to see the participants’ innovation that comes from this financial support.”

For Girard, having the highest-ever number of participants in the Starter Company Plus program to date reflects how much the local business community is growing, something Community Futures Peterborough is also seeing in its other programs.

“This is a testament to our thriving business community and the entrepreneurial spirit,” Girard points out. “We’re not seeing a slowdown in people looking to meet with us on advisory services or to meet with us on lending. This has also been validated through the Starter Company Program and the significant interest generated from people who want to start and grow their business.”

The 21 businesses in the City and County of Peterborough that participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time, is the program's largest-ever cohort, and each participant who completed the program received a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to grow their business. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)
The 21 businesses in the City and County of Peterborough that participated in the fall 2024 Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training program administered by Community Futures Peterborough for the first time, is the program’s largest-ever cohort, and each participant who completed the program received a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to grow their business. (Photo courtesy of Community Futures Peterborough)

Community Futures Peterborough also saw significant benefits from running a large cohort and has plans to continue with the model.

“When we launch the next round of Starter Company this spring, it will continue to be a large cohort,” Terry says. “It has been really beneficial for the businesses to build a community around themselves.”

To learn more about the Starter Company Plus program at Community Futures Peterborough, visit communityfuturespeterborough.ca/startercompanyplus/, and be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter and follow their socials to be informed of the next application period.

 

This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Community Futures Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

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