Wasaga Beach Is Open For Business - Join Us As We Grow!!!
Are you eager to launch a new business or expand your existing business in Wasaga Beach?
We have retail, commercial and industrial space, business supports, workshops, one-on-one counselling, and information about financial incentives to support your venture and help it thrive.
| Resources to Start Your Business |
Business Licensing and PermitsFor information on how to get a local license for your business and related permitting, click here. Centre for Business and Economic DevelopmentThe Centre for Business and Economic Development (CBED) is a Community Futures Development Corporation funded by the Canadian government. They offer support for small and medium-sized businesses by way of counselling services, providing loans and access to business information. Centre for Changemaking and Social InnovationThe Centre for Changemaking and Social Innovation (CCSI) inspires social change in Ontario by joining forces with non-profit organizations and Georgian College students and faculty to respond to to complex social issues. Through the Social Enterprise Network Central Ontario (SENCO), student-led projects, research, workshops, experiential learning opportunities and innovative curriculum, the CCSI is motivating the next generation of changemakers to use social entrepreneurial skills and mindsets to transform their community. Chamber of CommerceThe Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce is an organization of dedicated, energetic and vision driven men & women. The Chamber provides opportunities to promote your business through networking, advertising, seminars, trade shows and more. Chamber Board meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month and Chamber After 5 events are held every fourth Thursday of each month. Federal GovernmentThe Canadian Government has created the Canada Business Network portal to assist entrepreneurs and small business. The portal provides information and resources to help businesses during their start-up and growth phases of their business. Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship CentreThe Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC) is a resource for entrepreneurs at various stages of their business development. They are supported by Georgian College and the Ontario Centres of Excellence. HBEC helps entrepreneurs validate their business ideas and grow existing businesses by connecting them to the tools they need including mentorship, funding, training and networking. Lakehead University Economic Development and Innovation OfficeThe Economic Development and Innovation Office acts as a liaison for industry to access university resources, while striving to support and assist faculty spin-off companies, student start-ups, and entrepreneurial Alumni. The office is an essential component in developing and maintaining linkages with research and business partners, furthering local economic development. Ontario Small Business AccessOntario Small Business Access Centre is a provincial resource to help support small business owners in Ontario including funding opportunities, business advice and information about growing your business. Sandbox CentreThe Sandbox Centre connects people and their ideas to business resources; where guided collaboration and sharing of collective knowledge support their journey to success. The Sandbox is open and accessible to the entire business community. They offer mentorship, business events and networking opportunities. Simcoe County Economic Development OfficeThe Simcoe County Economic Development Office is responsible for the attraction, retention, and expansion of businesses and business opportunities within Simcoe County. Grant funding is also offered to businesses through the County. Small Business Enterprise CentreThe South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) serves Clearview, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach. They are a resource to help local enterprising people start and grow their business. Part of the provincial Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), the SBEC offers free one-on-one consultations, business plan reviews, seminars, networking opportunities and more. Wasaga Beach Public LibraryFrom your company's ideation to its growth and expansion, the Wasaga Beach Public Library has resources, connections and space to support your success. Brush up on business tactics with audiobooks, eBooks or traditional print. Meet privately with partners or clients in free study rooms. Start your research on local markets, history, genealogy or GIS mapping). Women's Business AssociationThe Wasaga Beach Women’s Business Association is a large group of like-minded professional female entrepreneurs. Membership meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month and are held at Country Life Resort from 5:30 – 8pm. Enjoy an evening of delicious dinner, laughter, support and skill building with these positive focused group of business women. XcelerateHEREmpowers women entrepreneurs with support and resources to help them start, grow or scale their business and overcome barriers and challenges they face in today's economy. A coalition of leading female entrepreneurs and community partners launched XcelerateHER to unite entrepreneurial women and connect them to the support and resources available in the Central Ontario entrepreneurial ecosystem. YMCA of Simcoe/MuskokaThe YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka provides various youth employment programs. Programs include the High School Entrepreneurship Outreach Program (HSEOP), Youth Job Connect and Youth Quest. |
Resources to Grow Your Business |
Business Licensing and PermitsFor information on local regulations regarding business expansion or signage, click here. Centre for Business and Economic DevelopmentThe Centre for Business and Economic Development (CBED) is a Community Futures Development Corporation funded by the Canadian government. They offer support for small and medium-sized businesses by way of counselling services, providing loans and access to business information. Federal GovernmentThe Canadian Government has created the Canada Business Network portal to assist entrepreneurs and small business. The portal provides information and resources to help businesses during their start-up and growth phases of their business. Georgian College Centre for Applied Research and InnovationThe Centre for Applied Research and Innovation focuses on product design prototyping, market research, analysis, testing and eBusiness solution development. It connects industry and community partners with faculty and student researchers to help clear business and technology hurdles and help entrepreneurs better understand their target markets. Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship CentreThe Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC) is a resource for entrepreneurs at various stages of their business development. They are supported by Georgian College and the Ontario Centres of Excellence. HBEC helps entrepreneurs validate their business ideas and grow existing businesses by connecting them to the tools they need including mentorship, funding, training and networking. Innovation CanadaInnovation Canada is a single access point of funding, expertise, facilities and global opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to grow through innovation. The only service of its kind in Canada, it offers free one-on-one assistance with expert advisors who provide customized guidance in selecting the most relevant programs and services to help you grow your business. Ontario Centres of ExcellenceThe Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) focuses on ensuring the people of Ontario reap the personal and economic benefits of leading edge research underway at our publicly funded universities, colleges and research hospitals. OCE supports commercialization of academic intellectual property, industry-academic collaboration and the development and adoption of emerging technologies. This includes overseeing the execution of advanced technology platforms that will equip Ontario companies to compete in a competitive global digital economy. Ontario Small Business AccessOntario Small Business Access Centre is a provincial resource to help support small business owners in Ontario including funding opportunities, business advice and information about growing your business. Small Business Enterprise CentreThe South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) serves Clearview, Collingwood and Wasaga Beach. They are a resource to help local enterprising people start and grow their business. Part of the provincial Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), the SBEC offers free one-on-one consultations, business plan reviews, seminars, networking opportunities and more. South Georgian Bay TourismSouth Georgian Bay Tourism (SGBT), formerly know as the Georgian Triangle Tourist Association is an In-Destination Education Organization (iDEO) which welcomes and introduces visitors to South Georgian Bay - Ontario's Four Season Playground. Tourism Simcoe CountyTourism Simcoe County provides county-wide leadership and coordination to help build and support competitive and sustainable tourism. They offer free tourism-related data and training, and drive experience development across the community. ventureLABventureLAB is the non-profit Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) servicing Simcoe County. They help entrepreneurs bring their innovations to market, by offering a unique combination of mentoring, partnering and connection tailored to the need of each unique business. ventureLAB offers the BUILD training program, one-on-one advisory services, workshops, conferences, special events and investor meetings. XcelerateHEREmpowers women entrepreneurs with support and resources to help them start, grow or scale their business and overcome barriers and challenges they face in today's economy. A coalition of leading female entrepreneurs and community partners launched XcelerateHER to unite entrepreneurial women and connect them to the support and resources available in the Central Ontario entrepreneurial ecosystem. |
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Funding Resources for Emerging and Expanding Businesses |
Please note that if you are looking for financial relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.Business Development Bank of CanadaThe Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a financial institution owned by the Government of Canada. The BDC offers business loans and advisory services to help Canadian businesses grow, both at home and abroad. They offer a full spectrum of specialized funding, including venture capital, equity as well as growth and business transition capital. Centre for Business and Economic DevelopmentThe Centre for Business and Economic Development (CBED) is a Community Futures Development Corporation funded by the Canadian government. They offer support for small and medium-sized businesses by way of counselling services, providing loans and access to business information. Export Development CanadaExport Development Canada (EDC) is Canada's export credit agency, helping Canadian companies respond to international business opportunities. EDC is a self-financing, Crown corporation that operates at arm's length from the Government providing insurance and financial services, bonding products and small business solutions to Canadian exporters and investors and their international buyers. Federal GovernmentThe Canadian Government has created the Canada Business Network portal to assist entrepreneurs and small business. The portal provides information and resources to help businesses during their start-up and growth phases of their business. Financial, Bookkeeping and Legal Services in Wasaga BeachThere are a number of business support services available in the Town of Wasaga Beach including major banks, financial planning consultants, certified professional accountants, office management firms, legal firms and bookkeeping service providers. Visit the Town's Business Directory to connect to local assistance. Futurpreneur CanadaFuturepreneur Canada has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada's young enterprise for nearly two decades. They are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners ages 18-39. The internationally-recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors. Georgian Angel NetworkThe Georgian Angel Network (GAN) is a group of private investors from across the region that come from a wide variety of backgrounds and careers. The group's investment capacity typically ranges from $100,000 - $350,00 and look at participating in subsequent financing rounds (follow-on investment). Furthermore, they consider syndication opportunities with other angel investors, other commercialization partners and early-stage venture capital funds. Ontario Centres of ExcellenceThe Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) focuses on ensuring the people of Ontario reap the personal and economic benefits of leading edge research underway at our publicly funded universities, colleges and research hospitals. OCE supports commercialization of academic intellectual property, industry-academic collaboration and the development and adoption of emerging technologies. This includes overseeing the execution of advanced technology platforms that will equip Ontario companies to compete in a competitive global digital economy. Ontario Small Business AccessOntario Small Business Access Centre is a provincial resource to help support small business owners in Ontario including funding opportunities, business advice and information about growing your business. Regional Tourism Organization 7Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) provides regional leadership and coordination to help build and support competitive and sustainable tourism. They help ensure that our region is better able to attract visitors, generate more economic activity and create more jobs. They offer free tourism-related data, funding and training. Starter Company PlusOffered through the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre, Starter Company Plus provides enterprising people over 18 years of age who want to start or expand a business in their community with the opportunity to receive mentoring, training and funding up to $5,000 to start or grow a business. Summer CompanySummer Company is a youth entrepreneurship program of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. The program is available to students between the ages of 15-29 who are in school and returning to school in the fall and is delivered locally by the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre. This program provides funding up to $3,000 as well as hands-on coaching and mentoring to help students start and operate their own summer business. ventureLABventureLAB is the non-profit Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) servicing Simcoe County. They help entrepreneurs bring their innovations to market, by offering a unique combination of mentoring, partnering and connection tailored to the need of each unique business. ventureLAB offers the BUILD training program, one-on-one advisory services, workshops, conferences, special events and investor meetings. |
Employment Resources |
Employment OntarioEmployment Ontario helps job seekers, workers and employers with advice, grants and other services around public and private sector employment. Local Employment Ontario Centres include Career Solutions in Wasaga Beach and Tracks Employment and Resource Services in Collingwood. They can assist with creating a resume to helping you put a job search plan into action. Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development BoardThe Simcoe Muskoka Workforce Development Board is a community directed, non-profit corporation that acts as a neutral broker, sourcing, conducting and distributing labour market research as well as engaging and facilitating community stakeholders in workforce development activities. Work In Simcoe County Job PortalThe Made In Simcoe Job Portal is an interactive tool featuring job opportunities, local resources, career exploration tools and local success stories. Tap into the local labour market and advertise your employment opportunities. |
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