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New Intake for Starter Company Plus Program

October 3, 2019
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.

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.

Starter Company Plus offers eligible applicants the chance to access up to $4,500 in financial assistance, along with training, business skills development and mentoring from local business leaders.

“Training and mentorship are the core of the Starter Company Plus program,” said Ryan Kuhn, Program Coordinator with the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre. “Participants will partner with centre staff and local entrepreneurs and experts who will help them develop the skills needed to launch and sustain a successful business.”

Information on the Starter Company Plus program is available from the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre, as well as online on its website.

Eligible entrepreneurs include those purchasing an existing business, starting their own, or expanding their already existing business. In order for a business expansion to be eligible for a grant, concrete growth goals must be established – ideally including the hiring of staff. 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. 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.

“There have been some changes made to the Starter Company Plus program, and we are happy to help entrepreneurs understand how this program can help them,” said Candy Pollard, Business Consultant with the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre. “The program has helped a number of local entrepreneurs establish successful sustainable businesses and we are looking forward to working with a new group of applicants.”

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 145 participants and has helped to distribute $390,000 via 78 micro-financing grants to local entrepreneurs.

Starter Company PLUS 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 October 3, 2019 and close October 18, 2019, 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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