Ottawa Valley entrepreneurs looking to build and grow their businesses have been given an extra push.
Enterprise Renfrew County says their Starter Company Plus training program has wrapped up for the year after three months of intensive business training for entrepreneurs with new business ideas or owners of businesses that have been operating for five years or less.
Sixteen local businesses were guided through coaching, mentoring, business plan and cash flow projection development, and both mentoring and instruction on marketing, accounting, insurance, and legal considerations before pitching their ideas to earn up to $5,000 in grant money.
This year, a total of $80,000 in grants were awarded to the following:
Arnprior
• David Meek – Mainbrace Studio
• Tina Thompson – Temple 13
Deep River
• Carolyn Mathews – Daisy’s Butterfly
• Salina Vanderhorn – Saturday Morning Books & Analogue
• Jolene Kellsey – In Fine Fettle
• Valerie Proulx – The Blushing Reader
Laurentian Valley
• Riley Thatcher – Valley Hair Artistry
• Rebecca Paulson – Winter Fresh Harvest
Madawaska Valley
• Sarah Blakeney Malo – Seed and Stone Farmstead
McNab/Braeside
• Alice Banks – Alice Alishka Yarn Cake
• Oliver Richards – Boa Engineering Inc.
• Dereck Wilson—Start 2 Finishes Construction
Whitewater Region
• Melissa Jardine Ridley—Nature’s Vesta Holistic Nursing
Pembroke
• Matthew Chalifoux – Peak Digital Partners
• Marina Neville – Neville Mediation
• Stephanie Williamson – Beautifully Balanced Books
A new addition to the Starter Company Plus program for 2026 was a mentorship program that matched participants to past program graduates and local entrepreneurs, providing them with the opportunity to engage with like-minded people, receive guidance and recommendations, and expand their networks.
The next opportunity to participate in Starter Company Plus will be spring of 2027. Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to contact Enterprise Renfrew County’s Small Business Advisor Heather Inwood-Montrose.
(written by Kasey Egan)
