Launch or grow your business with the City of Vaughan

Jan. 12, 2023 10:00 a.m.
​Apply for up to $5,000 in grant funding through the Starter Company Plus Program


Are you considering starting a new business this year? Or are you looking for ways to expand your existing venture in Vaughan? Through the City of Vaughan’s Starter Company Plus Program, the City is committed to helping local businesses grow and succeed! 

The Starter Company Plus Program offers tailored training for brick-and-mortar companies and startup entrepreneurs to develop a business plan, marketing strategy, budget and financial forecast. The program includes one-on-one consultations with a business advisor focused on supporting the development of the participant’s new business plan and an opportunity to apply for up to $5,000 in provincial grant funding to execute it. 

Recently, Mayor Steven Del Duca and Members of Council endorsed a Member’s Resolution to further strengthen the mission of the Starter Company Plus Program by holding in-person application information sessions across Vaughan. 

The sessions will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations through May:

Each information session will cover: 

  • grant eligibility criteria.
  • grant application process and requirements.
  • the Starter Company Plus Program structure.
  • an overview of the training programs that must be attended.
  • a Q and A session with participants.  

How to apply:
Interested in participating? Attend one of the information sessions, visit vaughanbusiness.ca/Starter-Company-Plus or contact ed@vaughan.ca to learn about program eligibility. 

Since its inception in 2014, the Starter Company Plus Program has helped nearly 300 businesses start and/or expand, resulting in 443 newly created jobs as of 2022. Programs like this provide business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools required to drive innovation and achieve the ultimate goal of creating a successful and environmentally sustainable business.

In addition to the City’s Starter Company Plus Program, businesses can connect with Digital Main Street’s Vaughan Digital Service Squad. The Digital Main Street program focuses on assisting brick-and-mortar small businesses in the City of Vaughan with adopting technologies and opportunities available to enable digital transformation. Led by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, the program will facilitate Digital Service Squad workshops, providing advisory support, digital assessments, digital tools, grant resources, learning resources and networking opportunities.

QUOTE(S) 

“The City of Vaughan is committed to business excellence and building on our position as an economic leader in the Greater Toronto Area. Small businesses remain the backbone of Vaughan’s thriving economy, representing more than 85 per cent of all local job creators. The City steadfastly supports Vaughan’s entrepreneurs and business owners because we understand our strength lies in their success. The Vaughan Business Entrepreneurship Centre provides many resources for business owners, including advisory consultations, workshops, networking opportunities and more. One initiative includes the Starter Company Plus Program, a great way for businesses in Vaughan to receive support, whether they are just starting or well-established. I encourage the business community to apply and explore the benefits the program offers.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca 

“Starter Company Plus is an amazing program for entrepreneurs and small business owners in the city. The tailored training for business planning, marketing strategy and budget forecasting is second-to-none, and Vaughan businesses can apply for a grant of $5,000 to start or grow their companies. For people who want to learn more about this initiative, the City is hosting in-person application sessions to ensure Vaughan businesses are well-prepared for the process – City staff are ready to help you grow your business!”
- Councillor Adriano Volpentesta  

“The City of Vaughan’s Economic Development team has remained committed to working with all levels of government to support entrepreneurs and small business owners, with a focus on maintaining the competitiveness of the local economy. From providing advisory consultations to supporting local and rising entrepreneurial talent through City programs – such as the Activate!Vaughan challenge series, Starter Company Plus and Summer Company – to developing the Advantage Vaughan plan, this team is working hard to ensure Vaughan’s economic success. I am so pleased that the Starter Company Plus Program continues to be an enduring support to the business community year after year.”
- City Manager, Nick Spensieri 

QUICK FACTS

  • In December 2022, Mayor Del Duca and Members of Council endorsed a Member’s Resolution strengthening the mission of the Starter Company Plus Program.
  • The City’s Starter Company Plus Program helps brick-and-mortar companies and startup entrepreneurs succeed by offering tailored training to develop a business plan, marketing strategy, budget and financial forecast.
  • In-person application information sessions will take place across Vaughan from January to May 2023. 

LEARN MORE

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