Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) is aiming to provide small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in more rural areas of Peterborough County with entrepreneurial support by taking one of its popular workshop offerings on the road in the new year.
As part of its celebration of Small Business Week (October 19 to 25), CFP has announced it will deliver a condensed version of its popular “Entrepreneurship 101” series, called “Entrepreneurship 101: County Edition,” at selected locations in Peterborough County early in the new year.
According to CFP, the three-part series will help entrepreneurs in the county spark ideas, strengthen their business skills, and connect with peers while bringing expert-led training to their area.
“By bringing a specialized workshop series directly to the county, we’re making our programs more accessible and reaching a wider audience within their home communities,” CFP executive director Devon Girard told kawarthaNOW.
Girard said she hopes the series will “continue to ensure that all businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs have in-person access to our team as needed, across every township in Peterborough County.”
Running through the early winter of 2026, the series is intended to make business education more accessible for rural business owners and aspiring rural entrepreneurs. The sessions are designed to offer practical tools, insights, and networking opportunities close to home, whether residents are just starting their business or looking to grow.
“Entrepreneurship 101 has always been about empowering people to turn their ideas into action,” said CFP Business Advisory Centre manager Rose Terry in a statement. “By bringing this series to the county, we’re meeting entrepreneurs where they are, removing barriers to access, and supporting business growth in every corner of our region.”
CFP said Peterborough County plays a vital role in the region’s economy, with businesses spanning agriculture, tourism, retail, and manufacturing. By hosting workshops locally, CFP is aiming to ensure that county-based entrepreneurs can access the same training and resources as those in the City of Peterborough where CFP is headquartered.
“Investments in rural communities help diversify and grow local economies, making growth more inclusive in our region,” Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith said in a statement on behalf of the Ontario government. “We need to nurture local entrepreneurs and give them the tools they need to collaborate and innovate, removing any barriers that stand in the way of their success.”
The “Entrepreneurship 101: County Edition” series will run in January and February with three interactive in-person sessions on Wednesdays in Havelock, Millbrook, and Lakefield. Each session will cover a different topic, with actionable takeaways participants can apply immediately, and will also include networking opportunities and local success stories.
“Ideation and Business Planning” with Allison Adam will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on January 21 at the Havelock Seniors Centre (10 George St. W., Havelock), where participants will learn how to transform their ideas from concept to action with tools for idea generation, validation, and business planning.
“Marketing and Branding” with Rose Terry will run from 9 to 11 a.m. on February 4 at the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre (986 Peterborough County Rd. 10, Millbrook), where participants will explore how to tell their story, reach customers, and build a strong and authentic brand.
“Funding and Cash Flow” with Braden Clark will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on February 18 at the Marshland Centre (64 Hague Blvd., Lakefield), where participants will gain an understanding of the numbers that drive their business, focusing on cash flow management and funding options.
While the sessions are free, space is limited and those interested are asked to register in advance at cfpeterborough.ca.
Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark expressed her support for the entrepreneurial series, calling it “a valuable initiative that makes business training more accessible to residents across the region.”
With a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the city and county of Peterborough, CFP is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, as part of the Community Futures Program.
In 2024, CFP launched the Business Advisory Centre to deliver the Ontario government’s Small Business Enterprise Centre program. Also receiving operational funding from the city and county of Peterborough, the Business Advisory Centre provides a full suite of wrap-around business advisory services from launch to exit and currently advises hundreds of local businesses annually.
