Community Futures Peterborough is aiming to help kick-start successful new businesses and empower the entrepreneurs behind them through its new workshop series launching in February.
Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre has unveiled the Entrepreneurship 101 series, a free workshop series running in February and March designed to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in Peterborough city and county.
The workshops are aimed at taking the guesswork out of starting or growing a business “while fostering a sense of community among local entrepreneurs,” a media release noted. The first workshop, which covers launching a business and creating a business plan, takes place on Wednesday, February 5.
Community Futures Peterborough executive director Devon Girard told kawarthaNOW she’s excited about the series that was designed to respond to key areas entrepreneurs have identified as challenges or areas in which they need support to develop their businesses.
“We have developed this series of workshops based on what we’re hearing pretty consistently from entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs, and those wanting to grow their businesses,” Girard said. “There are definite themes (around) what is preventing people from moving forward, so we designed this series to really support them.”
According to Girard, Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre are striving to equip entrepreneurs and small business owners with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed.
“This workshop series is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to learn, connect, and thrive in Peterborough city and county,” she said.
The series will cover the topics of business planning (February 5), marketing and branding (February 19), funding and financing (March 5), cash flow forecasting (March 19), and tax preparation (March 25).
All workshops take place from noon to 1 p.m. at Community Futures Peterborough’s offices at Venture North at 270 George St. N. in downtown Peterborough. While the workshops are free, advance registration is required.
“This series was designed to address the most pressing needs of small business owners, providing practical insights to help them build resilient and innovative businesses,” said Rose Terry, manager of the Business Advisory Centre.
“It’s important to create a continuous learning journey, fostering growth, and ensuring long-term success for the local business community, which is why we encourage entrepreneurs to attend the entire series.”
The Entrepreneurship 101 workshop series is open to all entrepreneurs, those exploring entrepreneurship, and small business owners in the region.
“Funding is one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face, but also where the greatest opportunities lay,” noted Braden Clark, loan manager at Community Futures Peterborough, in the release.
“These workshops will demystify the funding process, equipping participants with the tools to secure and manage financing effectively. Understanding cash flow and having a clear financial forecast is essential for long-term success, helping business owners build confidence to make informed decisions and seize opportunities.”
For more information and to register for the workshops, visit eventbrite.ca/o/community-futures-peterborough-8374966243.
Community Futures Peterborough’s mission is to support small businesses with flexible financing in the city and county of Peterborough. It has invested more than $42 million in 1,300-plus small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,300 jobs in the city and the county.
The not-for-profit organization is funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Community Futures Program.
Community Futures Peterborough assumed responsibility for the delivery of the provincially funded Small Business Enterprise Centre program in fall 2024, after Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, which previously administered the program, announced it was dissolving at the end of the year. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.
