The Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre (PREC) is offering congratulations on the work of nine entrepreneurs from the region, for obtaining grants totaling $45,000 under the Starter Company Plus program for their local business.

As part of the Starter Company Plus program, offered in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, these entrepreneurs attended workshops on topics directly related to small business. In addition to participating in training workshops, participants developed their business plans and delivered a pitch in front of a panel of judges similar to the television show ‘Dragons’ Den’, in order to be selected to each receive a $5,000 grant. Further to the insightful comments and feedback received from the jury, this financial assistance in the form of a non-refundable grant, will help with equipment purchases, inventory purchases, marketing expenses and expansion costs.

“Through these workshops and the exchanges between them, it allowed the existing entrepreneurs in the program to take a step back, analyze their business and review their action plan to progress and grow both personally and professionally. The new businesses took the time to plan and organize their ideas in order to start the right way,” says Liza Langevin, the PREC’s Project Officer.

The nine recipient businesses were chosen by a selection committee consisting of Steve Loiselle (Flowater Martial Arts), Danika Bourgeois-Desnoyers (La Cité des affaires), Miguel Araujo (La Cité des affaires) and Mariam Lkhoyaali (Société Économique de l’Ontario).

The Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre is proud to present the nine recipients of the Starter Company Plus program grant:

Mathieu Couture – Wag that tail – Clarence Creek

Alain Pilon – FlexBox – Rockland

Maxime Trembley – Max Creek Homes – St-Bernardin

Nizar Khayati – Académie canadienne de Handball – Rockland

Peggy McDonald – Good Food Garden – Vankleek Hill

Andrea Glenn – Gibbs Honey – Vankleek Hill

Deanna Twerd – Return to Nature Retreat – Wendover

Rosemary Kingsley – GROAdesign – Vankleek Hill

Stoch Surch – Red Leaf Carpentry and Joinery – Hammond

The Starter Company Plus program provides financial support for the launch of a new business, the expansion of an existing business and the purchase of a business. The Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help small business owners in Prescott and Russell succeed in their start-up or expansion project.