Starting or Expanding a Business

Valley Heartland CFDC administers local investments to fund and help finance new or existing small business for start-up, expansion or stabilization plans that help maintain or create jobs. The following loans and support services are available for your business expansion:

• Business loans of up to $150,000
• Short-term micro loans up to $5,000
• Interest-free retrofit loans, up to $35,000 for commercial buildings
• Business counselling services and frequent workshop specific to business topics and concerns
• Information and referral to other government programs

• Algonquin College Community Employment Services
• Lanark County Employment Services

Through the Town of Perth's Community Improvement Plan (CIP), the Town has developed three financial incentives programs to stimulate and encourage sustainable economic development and redevelopment in the designated CIP area:

• The Façade and Signage Improvement Program;
• The Building Code Compliance and Energy Retrofit Program; and
• The Municipal Tax Increment Rebate Program

The Canada Business Network assists Canadian entrepreneurs by providing advice and support to build a business. 

Whether you are looking to expand your business to a larger location or start a new business, serviced industrial lots (located on both Rogers Road and Industrial Drive) are available. This land is configurable and can be parceled in a manner that meets the needs of your development plans. Contact Joanna Bowes, Director of Development Services, for more information by email.

There are many benefits to becoming an active member of the Chamber, including information seminars and networking events.

Are you thinking about starting a small business, need help with questions on your existing business? Are you starting a business in the Lanark, Smiths Falls, Perth, Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills area? If so, the Small Business Advisory Centre is here to support you, the entrepreneur!

The Small Business Advisory Centre is an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, in partnership with the Town of Smiths Falls and funding support from the County of Lanark and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. A business advisor is available (by appointment) to meet with you whether you have questions about starting or growing a small business. The advisory services are free of charge and provide you with the information required to get your business going and keep it running smoothly and profitably. The Centre in the local service provider for programs such as Summer Company and Starter Company Plus and they offer many informative webinars and events throughout the year for businesses. The centre and personnel are very resourceful and can steer you to various other sources for more specialized information, if need.

The Small Business Advisory office provides confidential business advisory services to small business start-ups, as well as on-going support for existing small businesses. They are also a business information source designed to point entrepreneurs in the right direction whether they are just starting out or growing their business.

• Free business consultations (thinking, starting, growing) (Consultations via phone, virtual or in person by prebooked appointment)
• Seminars, Webinars and Events
• Outreach to Communities for consultations
• Business Programs (youth and adults)

Contact for more information:

Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/Leeds Grenville)

77 Beckwith Street N., Smiths Falls

613-283-0062 - book an appointment to meet by phone, virtual or in person (by appointment only)

cjames@smallbizcentre.ca

www.smallbizcentre.ca