Cornwall, ON – The Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre is excited to announce the recent successful grant recipients of the popular Starter Company Plus program.
The Starter Company Plus program provides free hands-on training for new entrepreneurs interested in start-up support for their business. The 12-week program is open to Cornwall, SDG, and Akwesasne residents in the spring and fall. Funding is provided by the Province of Ontario and administered by the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre (CBEC).
Participants receive assistance to start, grow, or buy a small business, which includes training, mentoring, and support provided by CBEC with help from local industry experts. A limited number of participants are invited to pitch their new business to a grant panel in order to qualify for the grant. Applicants with the highest scores are eligible for the grant, which can be spent on equipment, supplies, marketing and a number of other business growth initiatives.
“I was very impressed by the engagement and passion shown by all participants in this year’s program” says Mireille Lemire of the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre. “The entrepreneurial drive we witnessed during the pitch process is a strong indicator of the talent and potential growth in the Cornwall, SDG, and Akwesasne region. We’re proud to support these businesses as they take the next steps forward.”
The 2025 spring session was very competitive, with an initial enrollment of 53 entrepreneurs. Following weeks of hard work, only 12 participants were selected to pitch their business idea to the grant panel, with eight participants receiving a grant of up to $5,000
Congratulations to the Spring 2025 Starter Company PLUS Recipients:
- Briana Brozincevic – Pure Lymphatics
- Chris Power – Power Media Group
- Hassan Rafiei – See-Way More
- Melissa Palamar – Homestead Gardener
- Nancy Paquette – Cabin Design Co.
- Nicholas Marion – Red Maple Retail
- Phil Dzidah – Afro Bella
- Ryan Bancroft – Hint of Tint
The Starter Company PLUS program has been offered through the Business Enterprise Centre since late 2013. To date, the program has assisted 169 businesses and awarded $773,000 in grants.
Next Intake:
The application period for the next session of Starter Company PLUS will open on July 28th and will close on August 29th, 2025 at 4:00 pm. Click here for eligibility requirements, waitlist registration and other general information on the program: https://businessenterprisecentre.ca/.
Thank you to our sponsors Choose Cornwall, SDG Counties and Seguin Financial.
About the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre
The Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre helps small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed in Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry & Akwesasne by offering information, tools and support during the start-up and growth stages of business operation. This includes administration of the Summer Company and Starter Company PLUS programs. The Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre is operated by Cornwall Economic Development and funded in part by the Government of Ontario.
The Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre is located at 100 Water Street East (Cornwall Civic Complex):
