Entrepreneurship Programming

Peterborough County is home to a collaborative network of organizations dedicated to helping businesses succeed. Whether you're launching a startup, expanding operations, hiring employees, accessing funding, or entering new markets, you'll find the support you need right here.

Whether you're launching a new venture, growing your workforce, expanding into new markets, or strengthening your operations, our Economic Development Team can connect you with the right resources, expertise, and programs.

Start A Business

Community Futures Peterborough

Helping businesses start, grow, and scale through:

Business planning support

Market research

Financial planning

Marketing and e-commerce strategies

Loans and financing programs

Futurepreneur

Fostering entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s diverse startup founders ages 18-39. The only national non-profit that provides young aspiring entrepreneurs across Canada with the loan financing, mentorship and resources they need to start or buy a business.

Innovation Cluster

Technology, Startups, Innovation Support

Supporting technology based startups and entrepreneurship through mentorship, programming, and innovation resources.

Access Funding and Financing

Community Futures Peterborough

Helping businesses start, grow, and scale through:

Financial planning

Loans and financing programs

Microfinancing

Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8)

RTO8 offers a partnership funding program to help with digital marketing plans, signage improvements, studies and strategic planning as well as visual asset creation for local tourism businesses.

Business Development Board of Canada (BDC)

The Board supports small and medium-sized businesses in all industries and at every stage of growth with money and advice.

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

FedDev Ontario helps businesses and organizations in Canada’s most populous region to grow and compete. Offering funding programs, small business services, domestic trade support, and defence support.

Futurepreneur

Fostering entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s diverse startup founders ages 18-39. The only national non-profit that provides young aspiring entrepreneurs across Canada with the loan financing, mentorship and resources they need to start or buy a business.

Grow Your Workforce

Workforce Development Board

WDB delivers labour market insights, coordinates employment and training services, and collaborates with employer communities.

Fleming Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services

The Service System Manager (SSM) for employment services in the Muskoka-Kawarthas economic region, managing the operation of all employment service providers in Haliburton County, City of Kawartha Lakes, District of Muskoka, Northumberland County, and City and County of Peterborough.

Serving both job seekers and employers, providing free, locally responsive employment programs and services, with a goal to remove systemic barriers for clients and improve overall job retention.

By creating more opportunities for sustainable employment, MKES aims to build prosperity within our communities and contribute to a strong regional economy that benefits everyone.

New Canadians Centre

NCC is a beacon of hope and support for newcomers to Canada and this region.

Tourism and Hospitality

Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8)

RTO8 supports a competitive and sustainable regional tourism industry, attracts visitors, generates economic activity and creates jobs.

Resorts of Ontario

Established in 1942 as a private, not-for-profit association, Resorts of Ontario has grown to represent nearly 100 member resorts, lodges, cottages, and country inns. Our legacy spans over eight decades of connecting travelers with exceptional Ontario getaways and supporting our members in delivering outstanding hospitality.

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Connecting tourism leaders & innovators. Advocating on behalf of the tourism industry to the government and representing and providing resources for our members.

Agriculture and Food Businesses

Kawartha Choice Farm Fresh

KCFF is an economic development program, a brand identify and a hub for members. 

Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable | Peterborough Ag News

Providing a collective and united voice for farms in Peterborough on local issues that affect the future viability and sustainability of the sector.

Farms At Work

Farms at Work's aim is to build a vibrant farming community and food system in east central Ontario. Since 2010, staff and volunteers have pursued this goal through workshops and field courses, supporting access to farmland especially for new entrants, promoting environmental stewardship and the protection of farmland. Farms at Work is a non-profit organization with no core funding from any government source, relying on grants, revenue from events and donations to support its activities.

East Central Christian Farmers Association

East Central CFA is one of the districts of Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), an Accredited Farm Organization representing the interests of  farm families in Ontario who are called to the vocation of farming. CFFO policy promotes economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable farming, advocating that farmers receive fair return for their production and stewardship efforts.

National Farmers Union – Ontario Local 345

The National Farmers Union - Ontario is an accredited farm organization committed to:

Grassroots democracy ensuring you have a voice;

Promoting environmentally-safe farming practices; and

Advocating for small and medium sized farms.

Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association

A not-for-profit organization that represents all commodity groups across the province, leading in Producer education, Association development, Program delivery, and Consumer outreach.  Offering free workshops such as the Environmental Farm Plan and Biosecurity as well as cost-share opportunities.

Peterborough County 4-H Association

Peterborough County 4-H Association is a board of directors that oversee the 4-H program in Peterborough County and are the voice between the 4-H volunteers and 4-H Ontario.

Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association

Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture

To develop and consolidate farmer opinion for the promotion of any activity within the county which will improve the welfare of the individual farmer, the farming industry and the community. Dedicated to bringing the viewpoints and concerns of the membership to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture for policy development and action to interpret O.F.A. policy to all farmers in the county. To promote information sharing and networking and to promote and participate in cultural, social and leadership development.

Peterborough County Junior Farmers

Junior Farmers Association of Ontario provides opportunities for young people age 15-29 of all backgrounds, but especially those in rural Ontario, to take on the challenge of exploring their individual talents and potential to develop personally while being involved in bettering their communities, networking, and having fun.

Manufacturing

Kawartha Manufacturers Association

KMA’s objective is to grow the regional economy through World Class Manufacturing Supply Chains and the development of a diverse, highly skilled workforce.

Creation and promotion of development, training and funding opportunities.

Provide networking and best practice sharing opportunities in the Kawarthas region and in Eastern Ontario (Tri-Association initiatives).

Raise and promote manufacturing issues with all levels of Government.

Promote strategic partnerships with industry, government, education Institutions and community stakeholders.

Export Development Canada

Export Development Canada is a Crown Corporation dedicated to helping Canadian companies of all sizes succeed on the world stage.

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

FedDev Ontario helps businesses and organizations in Canada’s most populous region to grow and compete. Offering funding programs, small business services, domestic trade support, and defence support.

Innovation and Technology

Innovation Cluster

The Innovation Cluster is committed to building a vibrant hub for innovation and technology-based startups and entrepreneurs.

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

FedDev Ontario helps businesses and organizations in Canada’s most populous region to grow and compete. Offering funding programs, small business services, domestic trade support, and defence support.

Kawartha Manufacturers Association

The Association supports the success and growth of manufacturing supply chain partners in Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes region. 

Networking and Business Development

Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber is recognized as the leading organization providing business advocacy, networking, and education. 

Woman's Business Network of Peterborough

The Woman's Business Network is a networking channel for woman who wish to enhance and grow their business. 

Kawartha Manufacturers Association

The Association supports the success and growth of manufacturing supply chain partners in Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes region. 

Export and Trade

Export Development Canada

Export Development Canada is a Crown Corporation dedicated to helping Canadian companies of all sizes succeed on the world stage. 

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

FedDev Ontario helps businesses and organizations in Canada’s most populous region to grow and compete. Offering funding programs, small business services, domestic trade support, and defence support.

Business Development Board of Canada (BDC)

The Board supports small and medium-sized businesses in all industries and at every stage of growth with money and advice.