Business Resources and Partners

The Elmvale Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of business and property owners who work together to support growth and development in the Elmvale area. Established in 2012, the BIA works with their members, Springwater Council and other stakeholders to ensure downtown Elmvale continues to be a dynamic area of great shopping, dining, professional services, cultural opportunities and architectural interest.

The Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre is a focal point for your entrepreneurial endeavours in Central Ontario. Based at Georgian College in Barrie, the Centre offers students, faculty, staff and community-based entrepreneurs services and supports to help speed their business ideas to the marketplace. To help entrepreneurs clear the business and technology hurdles they may face, the Centre provides:

• Entrepreneurial training
• Connections
• Access to funding
• Mentoring

The Centre can link entrepreneurs with many strategic partners and advisors as they transition from concept to startup to first customer and beyond.

The North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation (NSCFDC) is supported by the Government of Canada and governed by a local volunteer Board of Directors. NSCFDC helps small and medium businesses access services and capital, enhancing the community’s economic and employment growth through community-based planning and economic development initiatives.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural Affairs provide policy and resources related to the agriculture and food sectors, and more broadly, rural Ontario. ‎Resources include:

• Commodity, export and business development staff for agri-food related businesses
• Funding programs
• Economic development advisory support for municipalities and not-for-profits

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit assists local business owners/operators keep their workplaces, employees, clients and customers healthy.

Simcoe Muskoka Skillforce is a non-profit, charitable organization that operates with a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of representatives from a variety of community stakeholders.

Simcoe Muskoka Skillforce is the first organization in Ontario to amalgamate the functions of a Regional Literacy Network and a Local Workforce Development Board. Funded through employment Ontariom they gather information about the supply of labour and demand side of the local labour market by working employers to identify and meet their current and emerging skills needs. The primary role of the Workforce Planning Board is to help improve understanding of and co-ordinate community responses to labour market issues and needs.