City of Vaughan

The program will provide entrepreneurs with training to help develop their business plans, marketing strategies, budgeting and financial forecasts. Eligible applicants will be supported under one of the following two streams:

1. Existing brick-and-mortar businesses with physical storefronts or office or industrial locations.
2. New startup and home-based businesses that may be looking to start or expand.

For existing brick and mortar businesses, training will target and focus on:

• supporting business owners in developing digital skills and improving their online presence.
• adopting new business strategies, such as e-commerce, that will allow them to continue generating revenue amid the easing of COVID-19 measures and as the economy reopens.

For new startup and home-based businesses, training will focus on:

• business plan development.
• conducting market research and trends analyses.
• marketing strategy, value proposition, advertising, promotional strategies, including digital and online.
• operations (legal, human resources, risk and insurance).
• budgeting and financial forecasting.

Start Your Eligibility Survey Now

 

To receive further information about the program, please complete the Starter Company Plus eligibility survey. All eligible participants will be invited to attend training sessions on an ongoing basis.

Important: The opportunity to apply for provincial grant funding through Starter Company Plus is competitive. Not all program participants will receive a provincial grant, but all are eligible to participate in training. Priority for grant funding decisions will be based on the quality and viability of the application in terms of the level of demonstrated traction (i.e., minimum viable product, sales, subscribers/users, pilot projects underway) and realistic prospects from immediate local impact (i.e., job creation, use of commercial property, business expansion). Final approval for a provincial grant lies with a Regional Grant Administration (RGA) made up of economic development professionals from across York Region. The City of Vaughan’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship team will help applicants prepare their grant applications for the RGA through training and mentorship programs.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for grant funding, participants must:

• be at least 18 years old at the time of application;
• not be attending school full time;
• be a resident of Ontario;
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• not currently be enrolled in other self-employment or entrepreneurship training/financing initiatives financed by government-funded organizations;
• not have previously received a Starter Company or Starter Company Plus grant.

In addition, for businesses to be eligible under the existing brick and mortar businesses stream, businesses must:

• be located and operate in Vaughan;
• have operated out of a commercial storefront or office/industrial space at a location other than the applicant’s principal residence;
• have access to at least three months working capital (either cash savings or access to credit);
• be an independent business and operate at arm’s length from family business ventures;
• have less than 10 full-time employees (25 if a restaurant) (or equivalent).

Businesses not eligible to receive funding include:

• distributorships;
• franchises;
• incorporated businesses that are controlled directly or indirectly by a person who would not be eligible for a Starter Company Plus Award;
• commissioned sales;
• not-for-profit or charitable enterprises;
• multi-level marketing ventures.

Dates and Deadlines

The opportunity to apply for a provincial grant is currently fully subscribed.  Pending funding confirmation with the Province, additional cohort deadlines may be approved for future dates.

If you haven’t subscribed to our newsletter, you can do that here. We send out emails weekly, about programs, events, and other information to help support Vaughan businesses. If applications open again, we will send that information out in our newsletter. In the meantime, our office continues to offer assistance on business plan preparation through the business planning launchpad and one-on-one advisory.

Bonus Offer*

All program participants will receive:

• 50 percent off two weeks of co-working space;
• 50 percent off for three months of storage;
• 75 percent off showroom space; and/or
• a free mailbox for one year when becoming a customer at the HUB Vaughan.

Successful grant applicants will also receive a $200 credit voucher to the HUB Vaughan services.

*Subject to change, limited quantities available.

Be part of the largest startup community in Vaughan

THE HUB VAUGHAN’s mission is to provide our community with a complete and comprehensive modern multi-space for individuals and small businesses.  We provide high end storage solutions and office space solutions to meet the ongoing demand for space.  We advocate an honest and open communication work environment with the utmost respect and consideration for our coworkers and for our community.  We will strive to bring the latest technology and security systems to our environment that would foster an innovative all in one storage and office complex.