APPLICATIONS OPEN

We have $20,000 to invest in projects and would like to maximize impact by funding a variety of projects in both for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations/social enterprises. As such, a maximum allocation of $3,000 will be considered per project/application. Projects that can demonstrate that they leverage additional funds/resources may be given higher priority.

Eligible Recipients: 
Must be located in the City of Orillia, the Townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Severn, or the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and must be structured as: a non-profit organization or a for-profit business (sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation). However, registered charitable organizations are not eligible.

Applicants must also demonstrate that they were operating prior to January 1, 2021, as start up activities are not eligible.

Applications must be received by the CDC by 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 21, 2021. It is recommended that applicants watch the short instructional video and read all guidelines to ensure eligibility and fit for this program. If questions arise or guidance is required, please contact the CDC at 705-325-4903 x 103 to discuss.

To apply, please visit our website:

Cost-share funding to support activities that create strong rural communities in Ontario

To be eligible for the program you must be:

Information Session:
OMAFRA staff will be conducting a public webinar to provide an overview of the RED program, and the process for applying to the program.
Please bring your questions as there will be a Q&A period. The session will be on the following date and time:

Managing Culture - Leading A Healthy Workplace

Part two of the two part mini-series on transitioning work models; More and more businesses are planning new working and service delivery models that will be effective for their customers, company culture and employees moving forward.

Join on September 8 for an exclusive session featuring Dr. Lisa Belanger, Behavioural Change Expert discussing work models (remote, hybrid, in-person) and key considerations from a culture and change management lens.

Learning Lab: Five Money Questions for Women

Small Business Centre (SBC) Webinar | September 15 @ 10:00 am

Financial Advisor, Laura Brailsford, discusses a process women can use to identify financial goals and set a strategy.
Assess where you are and would like to be, can you get there and how, plus ways to stay on track. 

Explore Entrepreneurship

Do you dream of becoming your own boss or have you started a new business in the last year?  Do you have a great idea for a product or service?

Becoming an entrepreneur is a very rewarding path but it comes with a lot of hard work, knowledge, and dedication.
This 3-week course beginning September 16 and hosted by Creative Nomad Studios, goes through entrepreneurship, and what it takes to run your business. 

The Future of Food

On September 22, Jo-Ann McArthur of Nourish Food Marketing will be providing an overview of food trends that have taken place in the last 18 months with some insights on where food is going post-pandemic.

Sandra Kahale of OnWard Consulting will be leading participants in an interactive networking session after the presentation to discussion topics such as:

Space is limited for this great event, so register today.

TAP in Simcoe County Info Session

Ready to expand your business horizons? Define your growth strategy through export.

Sandbox Centre, in partnership with The World Trade Centre Toronto, are excited to be hosting a Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) cohort beginning virtually on October 26th, 2021.

 Join the a TAP Information Session on September 29 @ 9:30 a.m., to find out more about the program and how your company can benefit! If you business is looking for export tools and resources, exploring or preparing for expansion into international markets, and seeking coaching or connections to help build a personalized export strategy – this info session is a must attend!

Companies that should consider attending are:

Program Starts September 29

It’s no secret that most companies promote their star employees to management positions. They know the job, they are great at the role, so they should be able to educate and train others on how the job functions – shouldn’t they?

Sandbox Centre (SBX), in partnership with Botree Inc., invites you to join a three week course series of live virtual workshops that unpack core concepts around management style and package them into action-oriented resources you can immediately apply to become an effective leader, drive performance, communication, retention, and engagement. 

If you want execution oriented content, best practice sharing, and fresh ideas that fit into your busy schedule; this series is for you! 

What is The Further Faster Business Program?

This program is perfect for entrepreneurs starting a new business or considering pivoting an existing business.

This intensive program focuses on the most important aspects of a business, making your business model effective, and efficient in market.

Take time to work on your business today!

Leadercast Lake Country LIVE!

The original date to host the virtual Leadercast event on August 11th has evolved into an opportunity to make the event a ‘mostly’ LIVE attendance. 

This is an opportunity to gather in person to participate at Lake Country Leadercast LIVE! The host sponsor Lakehead University and the City of Orillia venue will be able to accommodate 2/3 of the available 150 tickets as a live audience for the speaker line up. 

Network and inspire each other in Orillia on Friday, October 1st, 2021. The exact location will be confirmed in the coming weeks so stay tuned for an update! 

Looking forward to ‘seeing’ many of you in 3D very soon!

Now in its ninth year, Invest Ottawa’s flagship entrepreneurship conference will have women founders, funders, changemakers and groundbreakers from every walk of life leading from the stage and airwaves. 

It will also feature a top tier roster of inspirational women leaders from Ottawa, across Canada and around the world who are pushing through the She-Cession driven by COVID-19. They will share actionable insight, strategies and lessons learned from the tech and entrepreneurial trenches during the pandemic. Participants will gain scale-up, revenue, customer, and funding strategies to accelerate growth in any climate. And this year, there is no cost for tickets to ensure this event is as accessible as possible to every member of our community.

The conference will also feature Manjit Minhas, founder of the 10th largest brewery in the world, venture capitalist and co-star of CBC’s Dragons’ Den.