Cobourg, ON – July 7, 2025 – Nineteen local small businesses are celebrating a major boost – sharing a total of $44,500 in micro grants to fuel their business growth through this year’s Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN) Starter Company Growth Program.
“The Starter Company grant through BECN has helped me invest in key marketing tools to drive more local traffic to River’s Edge on Front,” says Phil Smith, owner of River’s Edge on Front in Hastings. “With support for signage, advertising, and digital improvements, we’re expanding our reach beyond the summer season and building stronger connections in the Hastings community.”
The Starter Company Growth Program is designed to support small businesses throughout Northumberland County with a powerful blend of virtual and in person training, one-on-one mentoring, business skill development and networking opportunities. Through this program, participants gain additional tools, knowledge and support to expand their entrepreneurial skillsets and successful participants receive up to $3,000 grant funding to help take their ventures to the next level.
This year’s cohort features a dynamic mix of 19 entrepreneurs spanning a wide range of industries that reflect the vibrancy and innovation of Northumberland County’s small business community. Approved businesses represent sectors including:
- Food & Beverage: such as cafés, cideries, and packaged goods, including: K Okay Café and Roasters and Centre & Main Chocolate, both in Warkworth; Arrowmatic Foods and Artsichy Cupcake Florist both in Cobourg; and Rice Lake Hard Cider in Baltimore.
- Retail: such as fashion, giftware, specialty foods, and pet supplies, including: Spark – Smart Toys for Cool Kids in Cobourg; River’s Edge on Front in Hastings; and the Edit Boutique in Warkworth.
- Health & Wellness: with businesses in spa services, foot care, holistic nutrition, and fitness, including: Mindful Meridians PEMF and Float Centre, The Foot Health Centre, Nourish Boutique Spa, Avery’s Body by Design, and Rajni Naim CNP, in Cobourg; and Body Love Fitness in Campbellford.
- Professional & Digital Services: such as marketing, branding, and home organizing including: PNG Marketing in Campbellford; Vanessa West + Co in Cobourg; and Home Handlers in Warkworth.
- Agriculture: with locally-grown produce and farm-based operations, including: Dirty Dog Cider Company and Unique Eats & Garden Treats Market Farm in Colborne.
- Education: with nature-based and wellness-integrated programming, including: Child of the Wild in Colborne.
“The Starter Company grant through BECN came at a critical moment as I transitioned both Dirty Dog Cider and Unique Eats & Garden Treats into a new year-round location on my farm,” says Lori Latendresse, owner of Dirty Dog Cider Company and Unique Eats & Garden Treats in Colborne. “The funding helped enhance our on-site experience through key improvements like customer parking, outdoor shelters, and accessible amenities – creating a more welcoming space for visitors and setting the stage for future growth.”
The Starter Company Growth Program is open to small businesses, located in Northumberland County, that have been in operation for at least six months and are looking to expand their business. The program accepts new participants twice per year, with the next intake expected to open in fall 2025.
“It’s a pleasure to work with such passionate and driven local entrepreneurs through the Starter Company Growth Program,” states BECN Business Development Coordinator Kailyn Coupland. “There are so many diverse products, services, and experiences available right here in Northumberland. Through programs like this, and with the continued support of residents who choose to shop, dine, and invest locally, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant local economy.
“As we celebrate local success stories like these, it is important to remember that every dollar we spend locally makes a difference. At the BECN, we are working closely with the Prosper In Northumberland Buy Local initiative (BuyNorthumberland.ca) to encourage the community to redirect a portion of their average monthly spending to local businesses, so we can continue to see our small business community grow and thrive.”
In addition to the Starter Company Growth Program, the BECN also delivers a range of other services, programs and events designed to support entrepreneurs across all stages and categories of business. These programs provide businesses access to micro grants, tailored business support, and valuable networking opportunities that empower local entrepreneurs to build and grow their business.
To learn more about the Starter Company Growth Program, or the BECN’s other programs and services available throughout the year, visit BECN.ca.
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