Your connection to business news in Orangeville
Starter Company Plus Program supports local entrepreneurs
Seven promising entrepreneurs are well on their way to successful careers as small business owners thanks to the Province of Ontario’s Starter Company program, delivered by the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre. The fall cohort consisted of the largest number of grant recipients to date with $34,000 in total funding being distributed amongst the participants.

  • Cameron Sheedy has launched Greeny’s Pest Control, an environmentally friendly pest control company. He will enhance his marketing efforts with the grant money. 
  • Cassandra Smith, owner of Parks & Abbie Co. will be purchasing a trailer to assist her with her gardening business. 
  • Dave Hennig of Headwaters Beverage Company will add a canning line for his line of Hop Water and beer-adjacent, non-alcoholic beverages. 
  • Sisters Jocelyn and Abbey Foster are purchasing new technology for their real estate marketing venture, Lens to Listings. 
  • Madison Bishop is creating new signage for Recess Play, her children’s indoor playground business located in the Orangeville Shopping Centre. 
  • Tina Clare of C.J. Clare Artworks has expanded her business to wearable art fashion. The grant will fund trade show space where she can display her work and generate leads for commissioned paintings. 
  • Trevor Kain of Lawntreepreneurs will use the funding to advertise his lawn maintenance and snow plowing operations.

The Starter Company Plus program supports entrepreneurs in Ontario looking to start, expand or buy a small business. The program offers free one-to-one consultations with a qualified business advisor, assistance with the development of a business plan, participation in free training, networking and mentoring sessions, and the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to $5,000.
Hear from connectivity expert Kate Davis on May 9
In our ever-changing environment, staying connected is more important than ever. Whether it’s a small business owner connecting with their customers and suppliers, interdepartmental staff communication, or colleagues connecting with other colleagues, good communication and rapport are fundamental to the development of strong business relationships and success. Building positive connections contributes to increased creativity, quick resolutions, and a deeper understanding amongst all staff of the overall business purpose. Staying connected to others keeps things on track and is one of the most important elements to a business’s success.

Join us as Kate Davis, a sought-after speaker, writer, and comedian, shares how to find balance, resilience, and connectivity through humour.

A twelve-time nominee at the Canadian Comedy Awards and star of her own hour-long comedy special on CTV and the Comedy Network, Kate Davis has a unique ability to find humour in any situation. She offers creative solutions to defuse frustrations and reveals how, through better connectivity, we can build stronger relationships that lead to greater innovation, productivity, and happiness in both our professional and personal lives.

The session will be held on Tuesday, May 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Monora Park Pavilion and the $25 fee includes lunch. Please register by Tuesday, May 2 to reserve your spot.
Summer Company Program supports students interested in starting their own businesses
Do you know an enterprising young person who would like to run their own business this summer? In partnership with the Province of Ontario, the Orangeville & Area SBEC is offering the Summer Company program. Eligible student entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 29, can receive:

  • Training, mentorship and business skills development
  • Funding of up to $3000 to help start-up and successfully complete the program

Students who are returning to school in the fall of 2023 and are between the ages of 15 and 29 are eligible to apply. Applications for the program will be accepted until Monday, May 15, 2023.
Call for Artists announced for 2023 public art installations
Local artists residing in Dufferin County are invited to submit original designs for the 2023 Call for Artists. This year, up to four utility boxes will be added through the program.

Successful artist submissions must:
  • be innovative in design,
  • foster community pride,
  • strive to counteract graffiti vandalism,
  • contribute to a sense of identity for residents and businesses.

Interested artists are encouraged to review all requirements in the Call for Artists before completing an online submission. The submission deadline is Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 12 p.m.
The Government of Canada-funded My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program provides $30,000 in funding to local businesses 
The Town of Orangeville’s Economic Development & Culture office would like to congratulate each of the following small businesses for receiving a My Main Street non-repayable funding contribution of $10,000 to support its main street business.
MAD Clear Out Liquidation and Clearance Centre opened its doors on October 1, 2022. Business owner Misty Desrosiers had recently moved to Orangeville and was looking for a new career. An avid shopper at liquidation and clearance centres, she felt that Orangeville was the perfect location to open this type of business. The Local Business Accelerator program provided insightful market research that helped Desrosiers learn about the downtown area’s demographics, shopping behaviours and customer preferences. This has benefited Desrosiers with curating inventory for her store. The funding component enabled her to install new flooring and window coverings that also serve as a promotion for the location.
After experiencing the warmth and charm of Orangeville, successful YouTube & TikTok Influencer, Jessii Vee, decided the location was ideal for the first brick-and-mortar location of her store – Jessii Vee’s Peculiar Place. The Local Business Accelerator funding helped to transform inventory storage space within 210 Broadway into a multifunctional space to host special events. She also purchased equipment to create a recording studio that will be used for Jessii’s podcast programs.
Business owner Tanya Frew was operating her successful art studio, Pottery Parties Studio, with exciting plans to start a new business that encapsulated the personalized feel of her pottery in the form of jewellery. Unfortunately, the fire at the Old Mill Hub caused a delay in Tanya’s plans, but she has since relocated to 121 First Street, and is pleased to offer both her popular pottery making services and her new line of silver clay jewellery called ”Silver Clay – The Tanya Louise Collection.” The $10,000 in funding from My Main Street helped Tanya purchase a new kiln and tools to get her started with this new business venture.
Cycling Elements has been dealing with supply shortages throughout the pandemic and had to switch its business model to focus on the service side of the venture. To provide more convenience for his customers, owner Jeff Lemon applied to the Local Business Accelerator program to help build a safe and secure drop-off and pick-up station for bikes. This allows customers to drop-off and pick-up their bikes beyond Jeff’s store hours. Funding is also being designated for exterior façade improvements to help make the drop off area more inviting.
The Local Business Accelerator program provided business owners of Bluebird Café & Grill Michelle and Rick Arsenault an opportunity to upgrade equipment and implement AODA enhancements that will benefit their customers. The hope is to attract new customers that may not have been able to dine with them previously due to accessibility challenges. They also hosted AODA training for their staff so they can offer a more inclusive, hospitable experience where everyone feels like they belong. 
The Local Business Accelerator program is part of an overall Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) of $23.5 million to support the recovery and revitalization of main streets and local businesses in southern Ontario.
Learn online with free webinars offered by Orangeville & Area SBEC
How to Start a Small Business
Wednesday, April 26 | 12 to 1:30 p.m. | No cost
Ideal for all emerging entrepreneurs, this session will cover the requirements and considerations of starting a small business in Ontario. This webinar will discuss the key elements of a business plan and why this essential document is so important when starting or growing a business. It will also answer many start-up questions and provide participants with the tools needed to begin building their own businesses.

Presented by Mark Jamieson, Co-ordinator of the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre.
The Town of Orangeville extends a warm welcome to these new businesses:
Congratulations to local businesses celebrating milestones:
  • Anytime Fitness Orangeville celebrated its tenth anniversary on January 28. The 24-7 access gym offers an extensive line-up of equipment and personal training services.

  • On January 23, the Barley Vine Rail Co. celebrated 10 years of business, with four of those being under new ownership. The downtown restaurant is located in a historic train station and serves locally sourced food and craft beer.

  • The Black Wolf Smokehouse celebrated 8 years in business on January 13. The downtown restaurant serves southern style, smoked BBQ menu items such as ribs, brisket, wings, and more.

  • BookLore celebrated 33 years of business in Orangeville in December. The independent bookstore, located at 121 First Street, offers a wide selection of books, puzzles, games, puppets, and more. Shopping is available in person as well as online.

  • Headwaters Physiotherapy marked its ninth anniversary on January 4. The healthcare clinic offers physiotherapy, chiropractic care, registered massage therapy, and other services to help keep you healthy and active.

  • Mill Creek Pub & Restaurant celebrated its tenth anniversary this past December. The downtown restaurant offers a relaxing pub atmosphere with excellent quality, fresh food.

  • On November 14, More Than Just Baskets celebrated seven years of business. The gift shop, located at 48 Centennial Road, Unit 2 offers custom made gift baskets, locally made items, and specialty foods.

  • Pear Home marked its seventeenth anniversary in November. The family owned and operated business specializes in unique home decor, home accessories and gifts.

  • Sym Bookkeeping & Tax Services celebrated 25 years of business in Orangeville this February. Located at 234 Broadway Suite #3, it offers complete bookkeeping and tax services for both personal and small business customers.

  • The Village Refillery celebrated two years of business in November. With a dedication to promoting sustainable and zero-waste living, The Village Refillery is home to an extensive selection of bulk organic foods and products for cleaning, bath, and body.

Is your business celebrating an upcoming anniversary? Contact us with the details and the opportunity to be included in a future edition of Business Connections. 
For sale: 400 Townline

This 13-unit, 13,109 sq. ft. neighbourhood retail plaza contains both local and national tenants and is anchored by Circle K and Whimpy’s Diner. Originally constructed in 1987, the plaza is fully leased and is the primary plaza within the immediate area, surrounded by lower density residential development. 

Neighbourhood Commercial (C2) zoning allows for multiple uses.
Please contact Ross Hughes, Broker, Hughes Real Estate Team, Royal LePage RCR at 519-941-5151 or [email protected].