Cornwall, ON – Seven local entrepreneurs have been selected to receive funding from the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre under the popular Starter Company PLUS program.

The 2026 spring session was very competitive, with an initial enrollment of 74 entrepreneurs. Following weeks of hard work, 12 participants were selected to pitch their business idea to the grant panel, with seven participants each receiving a grant of $5,000.

“It’s inspiring to see such strong interest in the program again this spring,” says Mireille Lemire of the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre. “With 74 applicants, this is one of our largest cohorts to date, which reflects the growing confidence and ambition of entrepreneurs across our region. These individuals are investing in their ideas and in their communities, and we’re proud to be part of that journey.”

Congratulations to the Spring 2026 Starter Company PLUS Recipients:

About Starter Company PLUS

The Starter Company PLUS program has been offered through the Business Enterprise Centre since late 2013. To date, the program has assisted 217 businesses and awarded $862,000 in grants.

The Starter Company PLUS program provides free hands-on training for new entrepreneurs interested in start-up or growth 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.

Next Intake

The application period for the next session of Starter Company PLUS will open on July 27th, 2026 and will close on August 28th, 2026 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 SDG Business Enterprise Centre is operated by Cornwall Economic Development and funded in part by the Government of Ontario.

The Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre is located at 100 Water Street East (Cornwall Civic Complex):