Since the Starter Company program was announced in May 2014, the Hamilton SBEC has trained 41 potential and established businesses, five businesses have received funding, and three have hired part-time or full-time staff. Recipients of funding to date include Manchester Workmanship and Applied Craft, Camerons Water, Board Games Central, Gattina Designs and Renata Taravski ND.Sculpt, LLC
Small business has been the backbone of the Canadian economy for generations, and although starting a small business may come easy for some, for many it is an endeavour that requires patience, focus, and trust in others almost as much as trust in self.
This last point is part of the impetus behind the province of Ontario's new Youth Jobs Strategy and focus on young entrepreneurs: Starter Company. Ontario residents ages 18 to 29 may have a great business idea, but many don't know who can help make that idea a reality. In short, they require trust in others (e.g. government services) to get that first business going.
The Starter Company program offers business training, mentoring, and a grant of up to $5,000 to eligible applicants who are Ontario residents ages 18 to 29, and who are starting or expanding a full time business. In the case of the City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) (one of 57 Small Business Enterprise Centres from across the province) is one of the most active SBECs in Ontario, and over the past several years has helped facilitate over 2,000 small business jobs in Hamilton and the outlying areas, and has processed over 100,000 small business inquiries. Clearly, small business is big business in Hamilton.
Since the Starter Company program was announced in May 2014, the Hamilton SBEC has trained 41 potential and established businesses, five businesses have received funding, and three have hired part-time or full-time staff. Recipients of funding to date include Manchester Workmanship and Applied Craft, Camerons Water, Board Games Central, Gattina Designs and Renata Taravski ND.
For those thinking about it, start that business in Ontario today through Starter Company.
Rob Belchior is the business development officer for the City of Hamilton, Small Business Enterprise Centre.
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