Applications are now open for a very popular program in Huron County.
The Starter Company Plus Program began accepting applications on July 1 and will be accepting them for the rest of the month. Brittany Wise, Huron Business Centre Manager, says the program is aimed at assisting entrepreneurs in the area with expanding or launching a business. She explains that the program involves in-depth training for applicants.
"It's a 12 week program that offers hands-on business training, business coaching, mentorship and also offers the potential to receive a grant of up to $5,000. So basically we give them the tools to set themselves up for business success," Wise shared.
Wise adds that there are certain criteria for applicants to complete before they can potentially receive funding.
"A business plan, cash flow projections, they need to attend all of the sessions, meet with our coaches regularly, that kind of thing to sort of complete the program if you will. Then, they have to do a 10-minute pitch to a grant review committee, and they're ultimately the ones who decide who gets the money and how much they get," noted Wise.
The training portion of the program, which runs from September through November 2024, includes hands-on training from business experts that covers a broad range of topics aimed at helping entrepreneurs get on the right track.
"We do programming on how to write a business plan, business financials, marketing and sales, customer service, lots of different things that would touch on any aspect of business, basically. So then we're giving them some tools and some information on how to do that or how to implement those things within their business," Wise said.
Applications to the Huron Starter Company Plus Program will be accepted until no later than 4 p.m. on July 31. Applicants will be required to participate in a brief interview and successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance into the program by mid-August.
For more information about the Starter Company Plus program, program eligibility criteria, and applications, visit www.HuronCounty.ca/economic-development or contact the Huron Business Centre at 519-524-8394 ext 6.