It took diligence, commitment, and passion, but nine local entrepreneurs got the job done and are now ready to make a positive impact on the local economy.
Enterprise Renfrew County has finished the autumn session of its Starter Company Plus program, which gives local business owners three months of training on how to develop a business plan and cash flow projections that are then used to pitch for up to $4,000 in start-up grant money.
Award recipients for the autumn program are:
- Jo-anne Caldwell of Rivers and Valley Coffee Company (Haley Station),
- Terri-Lee Cameron of TLC Fitness & More (Renfrew),
- Sarah Jellen Aadoson of Snapdragon Glass (Arnprior),
- Michelle Jozwiak of The Wizard of Pawz (Renfrew),
- Kiranraj Kamath of Indian Curry Pot (Arnprior),
- Krisanne Mascarenhas of Ottawa Valley Sport & Spine (Deep River),
- Laurence Roy of Arnprior Pelvic & Pediatric Physiotherapy (Arnprior),
- Amanda Sage of Deep Roots Nature & Nursery School (Deep River), and
- Derek Weidhaas of White Pine Bison (Pembroke)
Weidhass says the program has played a crucial role in his farm’s growth, adding that the knowledge and guidance he received are invaluable as they transition to the next phase of the farm’s operation.
Heather Inwood-Montrose, the Small Business Advisor for Enterprise Renfrew County, commends everyone for their efforts, noting that it “asks participants to dive deep into building their business model to develop a solid foundation for operations and understanding of their financials.”
The next intake for the Starter Company Plus program will be in the spring of 2024, with information sessions held in April. If you’re interested in taking part, you must attend at least one of the sessions in order to get an application form.
Find out more at the Enterprise Renfrew County website.
(written by Kasey Egan)
