Deadline Date: August 06, 2026
The Starter Company Plus Program is accepting applications from entrepreneurs seeking business development support through training, mentorship, and grants.
The program focuses on business planning, marketing, financial management, mentorship, business expansion, startup development, full-time business transition, and entrepreneurial capacity building.
Starter Company Plus is a training and mentorship program designed for new start-ups, businesses within their first two years of operation, part-time businesses expanding into full-time operations, and newly purchased businesses. Participants receive training in key business areas, including business planning, marketing, financials, and other essential aspects of running a business.
Eligible participants can also receive mentorship throughout the program. In addition, grants of up to $5,000 are available for eligible applicants. Individual eligibility will be discussed during an intake interview with the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre (SCEC).
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, be Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the time of application, and be prepared to commit an average of at least 35 hours per week to operating their business. They must not work more than 12 hours per week outside the business, must not be enrolled in or returning to full-time studies, and must be the majority owner with at least 51% ownership. Applicants are also required to demonstrate a minimum business investment of $1,250 and must not have previously received funding through the Starter Company Plus program.
Eligible businesses must be new start-ups, businesses operating for less than two years that are looking to expand and hire, part-time businesses transitioning to full-time operations, or newly purchased businesses. The business must be located in St. Catharines, Welland, Thorold, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Lincoln, West Lincoln, or Grimsby, with priority given to applicants from St. Catharines and Welland. Businesses must be independent, legally registered in Ontario, comply with all applicable laws and regulations, operate separately from family business ventures, maintain a separate business bank account, operate full-time as outlined in the business plan, and be market ready.
The program does not support franchises, distributorships, commissioned sales representatives, businesses that are continuations or subsidiaries of existing businesses, not-for-profit organizations, cooperatives, charitable enterprises, multi-level marketing ventures, single-event businesses, or businesses that operate strictly on pay-per-click or 1-900 number models.
For more information, visit InvestinSTC.
