Our Programs

New entrepreneur

Starter Company Plus Program

Starter Company Plus is a grant, training, and mentoring program for starting, expanding or purchasing a small business in Prescott and Russell. Here is what the program has to offer: 
  • Get one-on-one advice from a Small Business Enterprise Centre Advisor;
  • Participate in business workshops, seminars or networking events;
  • Explore topics ranging from writing a business plan to marketing campaigns and budgeting; 
  • Talk to a mentor with experience in starting, expanding or buying a small business; and
  • Apply for a grant of up to $5,000. 

Eligibility

Here are the eligibility criteria for this program:

  • Be 18 or older at the time of application;
  • Propose a new business, expand an existing business, or buy a business in Ontario;
  • Not attend school full time nor return to school;
  • Be a resident of Ontario and Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
  • Not be enrolled in other provincial employment or self-employment related programs that may or may not include financial assistance;
  • Not be enrolled in other professional training and funding programs for the self-employed offered by government-funded organizations; and
  • Not have already received a grant from the Starter Company Plus Program.

For more information about this program,  please visit the website of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

To be part of the program

The next application period will be launched in the summer of 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Liza Langevin by phone at 613-675-4661 or by email info@prec-cepr.com. Please note that spaces are limited.

Summer Company Program for Students

With the Summer Company Program, you can get:

  • Start-up funds of up to $3,000 to launch a new summer business; and
  • Advice and mentoring from local business leaders to help get your business up and running.

Learning to run your own student business is one of the best summer jobs you can have. You get to the chance to be your own boss while learning the skills required to manage a business. Sales, marketing, invoicing, bookkeeping, customer relations, and networking are just a few of the highly useful skills you will learn.

Eligibility

You could be eligible, if you:

  • Attend a high school, a college or a university;
  • Live in Ontario;
  • Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
  • Are between 15 and 29 years old (if under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the agreement);
  • Are not already running a business;
  • Are not working at another job or going to school for more than 12 hours a week during the program; and
  • Are returning to school after the program.

Please note that previous recipients of Summer Company grants are not eligible. For more information, please visit the website of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

To be part of the program

The application period for the Summer 2025 cohort is now closed. The application deadline was May 17, 2025. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly, so we encouraged you to apply as soon as possible by completing the admission form for the Summer Company Program.

For any questions, please contact Liza Langevin at 613-675-4661 or by email at info@prec-cepr.com.