BRUCE COUNTY – Aspiring entrepreneurs can successfully start or expand a business in Bruce County. Our diverse economy helps set the stage. And Business to Bruce offers financial support through two grant programs now open for applications: the Starter Company Plus program and the Tourism Innovation Lab Spark Mentorship and Grants program.
The Starter Company Plus program is a training and mentorship program that gives entrepreneurs the resources, knowledge, and guidance for starting or expanding a business in Bruce County.
The Tourism Innovation Lab Spark Mentorship and Grants program helps Bruce County residents (full- or part-time), entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profits, and community groups to come forward with creative ideas that will generate sustainable tourism opportunities, experiences, and partnerships.
Starter Company Plus is a business development program that helps entrepreneurs develop the skills you need to run your business with confidence and create a solid plan for a business to reduce the risk. When enrolled in the Starter Company Plus Program, entrepreneurs work one-on-one with a business advisor and mentor every step of the way. The program is administered by Business to Bruce, on behalf of the Government of Ontario.
Workshops and training sessions provide entrepreneurs with the resources, knowledge and tools they need, from business fundamentals, marketing and market research, and finances to operations and human resources.
Share and learn from like-minded people while networking with other entrepreneurs in Bruce County. Once training is complete, the applicant is invited to present their completed business plan and financial forecast to a grant panel to be eligible for a micro-grant of up to $5,000.
Those interested may register for an orientation session to learn more about the Starter Company Plus program and how to apply.
Applications will be accepted until Oct. 13.
Since its launch in 2017, the Starter Company Plus program, delivered through Bruce County’s Business to Bruce program, has provided grant funding to 54 entrepreneurs.
The Tourism Innovation Lab Spark Mentorship and Grant program supports ideas that will create new opportunities for the tourism industry and address gaps in our current offerings to make tourism in Bruce County more innovative, accessible, diverse and sustainable.
The program is a partnership between the Government of Ontario, Tourism Innovation Lab, Bruce County, Bruce Power, and Bruce Grey Simcoe (Regional Tourism Organization 7).
Whether you are an individual, a start-up or an established small business or non-profit organization, there can be many challenges and barriers to bringing a new tourism idea, experience or partnership to fruition.
The Spark Program will match selected candidates with a tourism mentor and provide a source of financial support to help take your new tourism idea to the next level of development.
“Supporting tourism innovation is critical to the long-term sustainability, competitiveness and success of this important economic sector in Canada,” said Justin Lafontaine, program lead, Tourism Innovation Lab.
Applications will be accepted until Oct. 19.
