The Starter Company pilot program through the Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation is coming to a close.
The Small Business Centre has rewarded nearly 50 $5,000 grants over a two-year period to help jump-start new business in the region.
"Starting a small business can be very daunting, and risky, and challenging, and certainly very, very rewarding but, we've put together a program that provides not only funding, but the wrap around supports to ensure that a start-up can be quite successful," says Sabrina Demarco, executive director of the Small Business Centre.
Many of the businesses offered grants have gone on to open store-fronts throughout the region and hire additional staff.
"We've had a lot of job success, growth rate, amongst these start-ups. While they start-up as solo entrepreneurs, they immediately grow, and expand and hire one to two employees," says Demarco.
Demarco is hoping the provincial government will continue the program after the two year pilot project is completed.