County of Simcoe - In-Market Special Project Fund
The In-Market Special Project Fund is available to organizations to create partnerships and enhance service offerings in Simcoe County for area entrepreneurs. All activities supported must be non-profit in nature. To qualify, at least one Small Business Enterprise Centre and one Community Futures Development Corporation must be partners on the project and deliver the service in Simcoe County. Applications are evaluated by the County's Economic Development Office with approvals from the County's Economic Development Sub-Committee and Committee of the Whole.
Interested in applying? Email: edo@simcoe.ca
In-Market Support Special Project Fund, 2019-2022.pdf
Community Futures Development Corporations and Small Business Enterprise Centres
Community Futures Development Corporations can provide a loan of up to $150,000 to start or grow small businesses in Northern Ontario or rural Southern Ontario. They also provide access to business training and planning support. The purpose of these centres is to specifically cater to the localized needs of each community.
Small Business Enterprise Centres offer the Starter Company Plus and Summer Company programs.
Are you an entrepreneur who is starting, growing or buying a business? Through Starter Company Plus, you could be eligible to apply for this mentorship and training program. Once participants have completed this program, they may be eligible to apply for a micro-grant of up to $5,000 to put towards the business.
Summer Company will provide accepted students mentoring, business training and up to $3,000 in funding to start and run their business for the summer. The Small Business Centre will assist you in the development of your business plan and throughout your business operations during the whole summer.
The Small Business Enterprise Centres also provide free consultations with a qualified business consultant, internet and computer access for business research and planning, review of business plans, consultations through a lawyer/accountant referral service, up-to-date, leading-edge information geared to the needs of the entrepreneur, access to current resource materials, including directories, trade indexes and books that entrepreneurs can peruse on-site, workshops and seminars, guidance on licenses, permits, registration, regulations and other forms and documents required to start and build a business, import and export information, information on patents, copyright and trademarks, and mentoring and networking opportunities.
See Partners page for listing and contact information for Community Futures Development Corporations and Small Business Enterprise Centres in Simcoe County.
Georgian Angel Network
Tel: 705-441-4058
EmailWebsite Provides angel investment and business development support to high-growth potential firms in Simcoe County. Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7)
RTO7 offers a number of funding programs to support private and non-private tourism operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism organizations, municipalities, and associations/interest groups with a primary purpose in tourism in Bruce Grey and Simcoe Counties. They offer Partnership Programs and Implementation Programs.
Tel: 705-888-8728
Email
Website
Sandbox Centre
The Sandbox is Ontario's first private sector-led innovation hub, with a core focus of connecting established organizations and scaling businesses in Central Ontario with professional development, peer support, and growth opportunities. The Sandbox is also home to the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Orillia & Simcoe County and Innovators Alliance CEO group, and is located above the downtown Barrie Transit Terminal.
Website
Public Library Services
Available to all municipalities
Tel: 705-728-1010 ext. 7014
Email
Website
Provides businesses with access to the P-Census, which supports informed local marketing decisions by disclosing neighbourhood-level spending information, and Dun and Bradstreet’s Business Directory, to better assess local supply chain opportunities and challenges. Also provides business planning and development workshops and resources through specialized business librarian services.
Chambers of Commerce
See
Partners page for listing and contact information for Chambers of Commerce in Simcoe County.
Provides support to the local business community through networking opportunities, advocacy, and involvement in local projects to improve the business climate of the community.
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium - Barrie/Midland Branch
Tel: 1-866-323-4362
EmailWebsite
This group provides support for manufacturers through workshops, training programs, and mentorship.
Georgian College
Tel:
705-728-1968
EmailWebsite
Georgian College provides a variety of services to the business community of Simcoe County. Their Centre for Applied Research and Innovation assists businesses with accessing financing, support, and opportunities for product testing at their facility in Barrie. Beyond this they also work closely with industry to provide a skilled workforce through their cooperative education program and accomplished graduates, and also offer assistance in creating international business plans.
Lakehead University
Tel: 1- 807-343-8871
Website
Seeks out industry partners for collaboration to conduct research with the university, provides access to university resources for industry, and provides educational opportunities for local industry.
Simcoe-Muskoka Workforce Development Board
Tel:
1-800-337-4598
EmailWebsite
The Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board facilitates training and adjustment activities that will equip people with skills for new and/or changing employment that is in demand by employers in their own local community.
VentureLAB
Tel: 905-248-2727
EmailWebsite
VentureLab is a Regional Innovation Centre based in Markham, Ontario. They provide in depth assistance throughout the business development process with their BUILD program, and a number of useful events throughout the year. Although everyone is welcome to access their services, they specialize in working with innovative companies in the technology and health sectors.
Employment Assistance
Agilec™ Barrie | Innisfil
Barrie: 705-728-0897
Innisfil: 705-431-2255
Website
Bradford Works
Tel: 905-778-9058
EmailWebsite
Career Centre
Tel: 705-725-8990 Ext. 0
Website
Careers for Inclusion
Tel: 1-866-483-2158
EmailWebsite
Focus Community Development Corporation
Tel: 705-435-9821
EmailWebsite
Georgian College Employment Services Barrie
Tel:
705-722-1505
EmailWebsite
Georgian College Employment Services Orillia
Tel:
705-329-3102
EmailWebsite
La Cle De L’Emploi Employment Services (Bilingual)
Tel: 705-549-5227
EmailWebsite
Tracks Employment and Resource Services of Georgian Bay Inc.
Tel: 705-444-1580
EmailWebsite
YMCA Employment Service Centre – Midland
Tel: 705-528-0845
EmailWebsite