March 9, 2021:  On March 1, 2021 The Thunder Bay and District Entrepreneur Centre along with 53 other Small Business Centres announced the launch of a new Small Business Centers Ontario website www.sbcontario.ca. The website was created collectivity with 54 Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centers across Ontario. Through funding from the Ontario Government under the Ontario Together Fund initiative, the site has been created to increase access and awareness of COVID-19 recovery services available to small businesses.

Over the past year, the Thunder Bay and District Entrepreneur Centre has received over 1100 inquiries from both local and regional business owners and hosted over 300, one on one virtual consultations with business owners and entrepreneurs. The need for support and resources for small businesses is needed now more than ever. The Thunder Bay and District Entrepreneur Centre is one of the 54 small businesses centres and with this new tool, they will be able to further support Thunder Bay’s local and regional business community.

“At the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre we are constantly looking for resources for our clients to ensure their success,” says Ryan Moore, Development Officer, Thunder Bay CEDC. “The creation of this website strengthens the connection between offices by allowing us to work collectively to support Ontario’s small business through COVID-19.”

Through the new website small business owners can access valuable support, including virtual business advisory services, improved access to funding, important, and timely information, special programs, training, mentorship and more. Service in both official languages is available at selected locations throughout our network.

Small Business Centres (SBC) Ontario officially launched in February 2021 and is functioning as the Ontario Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network. Funding for this organization is provided by the Government of Ontario under the Ontario Together Fund initiative. This new network brings together 54 Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBEC) locations that have been in operation for over 30 years through support from the Ontario Government, as well as local and regional governments.

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Contact: Ryan Moore, Development Officer, Thunder Bay CEDC, ryan.moore@thunderbay.ca, (807) 625-3972

About Thunder Bay CEDC:
The CEDC is responsible for business development, retention and expansion, entrepreneurial support, opportunity promotion, and the collection and assessment of key business data. It responds to new projects and initiatives to attract direct financial involvement from government and private sectors, promotes newcomer attraction. For more information, visit gotothunderbay.ca

Located within the CEDC’s administrative office, the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre provides free and confidential counselling, information, and resources to new and existing small businesses. For more information about the Entrepreneur Centre and the current programs visit: gotothunderbay.ca/entrepreneurcentre