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New Intake for Starter Company PLUS Program

February 19, 2020
By Bob Peters

Cornwall Ontario – Entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their small business can once again apply for assistance from the Starter Company Plus program.

Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre 2020

A new intake of applications has been announced by the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre, which administers the program on behalf of  the Government of Ontario.  Applications will be accepted from March 9th, 2020 to March 27th at 4:00 pm.

Starter Company PLUS program is open to residents of Cornwall, Akwesasne, and SD&G who are 18 years of age and older. The program offers successful applicants unparalleled assistance to start, grow or purchase an existing small business. This assistance comes in the form of training seminars, business skills development, mentoring from local business leaders and ultimately potential access to capital.

“Training and mentorship are the core of the Starter Company PLUS program,” said Ryan Kuhn, Program Coordinator with the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre. “Centre staff will work with participants to help them develop the skills needed to launch and sustain a successful business. Participants are also eligible to apply for a grant of up to $4,500.”

Prospective entrepreneurs are invited to visit the CBEC website for an outline of the Starter Company PLUS program and to access the on-line application. CBEC staff will work with approved entrepreneurs to create a learning plan, schedule necessary training, and ultimately create a business plan, start-up budget and a 2-year financial forecast.

Eligible entrepreneurs include those starting their own business, purchasing an existing business, or expanding their already existing business. In order for a business expansion to be eligible for a grant, concrete changes and growth goals must be established – ideally including the hiring of staff. Once training is complete, the applicant is eligible to apply for funding of up to $4,500. No funding will be provided to the participants during the training module.

“The Starter Company PLUS program has seen a great deal of success over the past several years,” said Candy Pollard, Business Consultant with the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre.  “We are proud to say that many of our program and grant recipients have built very successful businesses, with several growing to the point of hiring additional staff.”

The Starter Company program was launched in 2014 to support younger entrepreneurs and then re-launched in 2017 as Starter Company PLUS. Since inception, the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre has worked with 160 participants and has helped to distribute $445,000 via 92 micro-financing grants to local entrepreneurs. Thirteen local entrepreneurs were recently awarded funding under a previous intake of the Starter Company PLUS program.

Quick Facts

  • Entrepreneurs in Cornwall, SD&G and Akwesasne, can apply to the Starter Company PLUS program by submitting a program application to the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre.
  • To apply, participants must be an Ontario resident, 18 years of age or older, and no longer attending school.
  • Successful applicants may receive up to a $4,500 grant to help launch/purchase/expand their business.
  • Applications open March 9th, 2020 and close March 27th, 2020 at 4:00 pm ET.

Click here for more details on the Starter Company Plus program.

About the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre
The Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre has been operated by the City of Cornwall since 1997 and is funded in part by the Government of Ontario. The centre provides information and support to entrepreneurs during start‐up and growth stages of business operation. Seminars, workshops and special events are held throughout the year, on topics of interest to various types of businesses. The Centre also administers the popular Summer Company program for student entrepreneurs and the highly successful Starter Company PLUS program.

The Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre is located at 100 Water Street East (Cornwall Civic Complex) and can be contacted by phone at 613-930-2787 ext 2276 or online at:

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