The Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre (the “PREC”) congratulates the Entrepreneurs from the region of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell who have been awarded grants totalling $40,000 as part of the Starter Company Plus program.
As part of the Starter Company Plus program, and offered in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, these Entrepreneurs attended training workshops. Workshop themes included (1) offer and demand clarity, (2) the ideal customer, (3) engagement strategy, (4) innovate, build and organize, (5) innovative selling, (6) accounting, tools and profits, and (7) the elevator pitch and networking. These workshops were offered by business coaches Antoine Carrière (Entrepreneur Lifestyle Academy) and Marc Lecompte (Kwik Tax).
In addition to taking part in these workshops, the participants developed their business plan and delivered a pitch to a Selection Committee to be chosen to receive a grant of $5,000. This Committee consisted of Louis Béland (Eastern Ontario Training Board), Renée Gendron (Paro Centre for Women’s Enterprise), Victor-Urbain Ngollo Ngollo (La Cité des affaires), and Halima Taouaou (Société Économique de l’Ontario).
This financial assistance, in the form of a non-repayable grant, will help businesses with equipment and inventory purchases, marketing expenses, as well as costs related to business start-up and expansion. “During these training workshops, the Entrepreneurs planned the next operational steps of their business and exchanged ideas with each other, enabling them to forge relationships, develop a professional network, and acquire relevant knowledge,” said Liza Langevin, Project Officer for the PREC.
The Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre is proud to present the eight recipients of grants from the 2023-2024 Starter Company Plus program, namely:
- Karine Lalonde - Hair & Extensions by K (Fournier);
- Natacha Bonjean - Sweet Billy’s (St-Isidore);
- Stephanie Pete - Art & Dream Studio (Vankleek Hill);
- Paul Latreille & Sylvie Rochon - Chin Chin Coffee Roasters (Russell);
- Eric & Ines Batterton - My Nordic Garden (Hawkesbury);
- Elisabeth Arbaud – CàB Café (Chute-à-Blondeau);
- Bailey Playfair – Playfair Cleaning Services (Rockland);
- Evelina Bosse – So Special Bakery (Plantagenet).
About the Starter Company Plus Program
The Starter Company Plus program provides financial support and learning opportunities to launch a new business, expand an existing business, or purchase a business. A new application period for the program will begin in late summer 2024.
About the Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre
The Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre (the “PREC”) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in Prescott and Russell succeed in their start-up or expansion projects.