The Ontario provincial government is actively distributing their Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives (SOPIs) to encourage economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Wolf Steel Ltd., a Barrie-based manufacturer of Napoleon Fireplaces, was recently awarded over $4 million in repayable Ontario government funding through the Investing in Business Growth & Productivity (IBGP) small business loan. This funding…
The Southern Ontario Defence Association (SODA) is holding an event in March 2015 to connect key players in the defence industry, as well learn of near-term-supplier/procurement opportunities. The event will focus on supply chain management and development, including sourcing new suppliers for existing platforms and potential suppliers for future platforms and procurements. Made in Canada…
In 2013, the Accelerator Centre (AC) in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario piloted a program, called JumpStart, to mentor startups and entrepreneurs.This year, the program receives a full launch alongside $8M in funding. The AC JumpStart program is a four-year partnership between the Accelerator Centre and three post-secondary institutions: Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier…
In 2012, Statistics Canada compared Canadian business’ commitment to introducing new innovations within their organization between 2007-2009 and 2010-2012. When comparing these time periods, trends can be seen towards an increased focus on organizational innovation, as well as a dedication towards product innovation. These two metrics relate to productivity improvements throughout the organization, often carried…
If you are interested in learning about Canadian business grants and loans to help grow and innovate, our Mentor Works team is quite active in the month of February. Bernadeen McLeod and Laura Hunter Mather will be presenting and attending events throughout the month. If you plan on attending any of these events, please be…
Southern Ontario manufacturers focused on exporting outside of Canada should take note of a newly launched grant. The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) association is providing established manufacturing businesses with funding to support the assessment and adoption of advanced technologies. Interested in learning more? Register for our free upcoming informational CME SMART Advanced Technologies for…
Canadian businesses in and around the region of Kitchener-Waterloo should mark their calendars for an exciting funding event. On February 18, Bernadeen McLeod, President & Owner of Mentor Works, will help businesses discover government grants and loans on both the federal and provincial levels. Funding exists for a wide variety of funding initiatives, including business…
In 2017, the Ontario provincial government will introduce a mandatory provincial pension plan, impacting business’ payroll budgets and employee wages across Ontario. The Liberal provincial government will introduce the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) in reaction to trend of workers not saving enough to maintain their standard of living upon retirement. However, this change to…
The Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) is committed to supporting physical and digital media activity across the province through events, resources, and business funding programs, including the Interactive Digital Media Fund and OMDC Export Fund. The corporation is now planning a specialized meeting in Toronto to provide a forum for Canadian film and television, and…
Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) is an organization that leverages strong partnerships and support to help technical industries develop products and move them to market through the parent organization, Alberta Innovates. AITF is making progress to this end by building upon the province’s established advantage in industries like nanotechnology, information communication technologies, and genomics. The…