Bruce County has gotten a one-year extension for the Small Business Enterprise Centre.
The extension was granted by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade.
The SBEC program as operated by Bruce County is branded as Business to Bruce, and the extension will start on April 1st of this year and end on March 31st of 2025.
Jeff Loney, the Manager of Economic Development for Bruce County, says that as a part of the SBEC program, the county is part of a network with other municipalities across Ontario.
He says that locally, Bruce County is part of a partnership with Grey County and local businesses to help support the success of the initiative.
“The Bruce Grey entrepreneurship ecosystem has about 25 members in our area that are working in the ecosystem and our team takes a lead role in coordinating and bringing those partners together.”
Business to Bruce offers three programs, the SBEC Core program, Starter Company Plus, and Summer Company, each with its own focus.
The purpose of the SBEC Core program is to provide business advice to entrepreneurs and small businesses, as well as offer skills development. The benefit is that small businesses are given the tools they need in order to grow and prosper in the community.
Starter Company Plus offers training, mentoring, and grants of up to $5,000 to help participants buy, start, or expand a small business.
Summer Company offers training, mentoring, and grants of up to $3,000 to youth entrepreneurs who are looking to start a full-time business over the summer.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau asked if the province was offering a way to extend the program beyond next year, because of the success that it has garnered for local businesses.
Loney informed council that according to the province, the program was under review.
“We are hoping the province reaches out for a more fulsome request on the information for this program. They have not. They have only mentioned that this program is being reviewed.”