SARNIA, ON: Seven small businesses have been selected to participate in the Starter Company Plus program.
The Starter Company Plus program provides access to mentorship and $5,000 grants. The program is designed to foster entrepreneurship and small business growth across the county. These seven small businesses were selected following a competitive process.
“We are dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs whether they are growing an existing business, starting a new one or in the early stages of exploring an idea,” said Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership CEO, Dan Taylor.
With over 35 businesses participating in the Starter Company Plus application process, the volunteer review committee began making their selections. Of the successful applicants, four are growing an existing business and three are starting a new business.
“Mentorship and connections continue to be top of mind for the businesses and entrepreneurs who applied for the Starter Company Plus Program,” said Business Enterprise Centre Manager, Chantelle Core.
“We are excited to work with the cohort of businesses selected by the review committee. Our goal in bringing these seven businesses together is to enable them to use and share their collective knowledge with the support and mentorship of local business leaders.” added Core.
All Starter Company Plus applicants receive access to the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership’s Business Enterprise Centre services. The free service includes workshops, seminars, and one-one-one business consultation services to help aspiring, new, and existing entrepreneurs. Business counselling can help individuals address questions or concerns, define their business idea, create their business plan and more.
The Business Enterprise Centre services are available to all residents of Sarnia-Lambton, regardless of participation in the Starter Company Plus program.
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership would like to thank the Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation, Libro Credit Union, Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park, Her Initiative Co., and Bluepoint Public Relations. for their in-kind contributions to the success of the program.
ABOUT Small Business Enterprise Centre:
The Business Enterprise Centre is a joint venture of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, The County of Lambton, and the Province of Ontario. The Sarnia-Lambton Small Business Enterprise Centre provides free, confidential business counselling and advisory services to aspiring entrepreneurs, those in the start-up stage, and existing small businesses in the Sarnia-Lambton area. Operated by a team of professionals dedicated to the success of entrepreneurs and small businesses in Sarnia-Lambton, we offer the expertise to help businesses every step of the way. Visit sarnialambton.on.ca to learn more.
ABOUT Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership:
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the Sarnia-Lambton area. Funded by the County of Lambton, we have a focus on promoting the distinct advantages that Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers companies and residents. By coordinating community-based economic development initiatives and working to maintain a commercially attractive environment, we foster new business creation, help ensure that established firms remain and grow here, and work to attract growing businesses to the Sarnia-Lambton area. Visit sarnialambton.on.ca to learn more.
A full list and descriptions of this year’s program participants can be found below:
New Businesses:
Sisterly Lactation
Owned and operated by Meagan Millar and Pam Wilson in Lambton Shores, Sisterly Lactation provides in-home lactation consultations for parents throughout their breastfeeding journey. Sisterly Lactation supports parents for a variety of reasons, but most specifically when they have reached an obstacle in their infant feeding journey. Meagan and Pam will also be providing Prenatal Breastfeeding Workshops to strengthen support in the community. Sisterly Lactation is passionate about education and fostering conversations around biologically normal infant behaviors.
Kim Rizzetto, Speech Language Pathologist
Following her passion, Kim Rizzetto, Speech Language Pathologist, launched a private practice in Sarnia. Kim has many years of experience offering a wide range of therapy in various settings and established her area of expertise working with families. Kim is offering speech and language services to children with the longer-term goal of offering a wide variety of services for children and youth with other professionals in a centralized family friendly location.
Blue Coast Bitters
Sandra and Jamie Gallaway, founder of Blue Coast Bitters, began production in 2022 and will launch sales in early 2023. They produce craft cocktail bitters and sales will be available through their e-commerce store. Cocktail bitters are concentrated flavor additives that elevate your cocktails. They can also be used in mocktails, coffee, added to water or used in baking as a replacement for vanilla extract.
Growing Businesses:
SunCoast Natural Health
Owned and operated by Sandra Starbuck, SunCoast Natural Health is Wyoming’s health food store and refillery. This main street store carries nutritional supplements, essential oils and diffusers, prepackaged organic food, herbal teas and a personal kombucha flavor on tap. Sandra’s goal for the refillery is to support sustainability and wellness through personal care, cleaning, and laundry needs.
Brenda Pearson Coaching
Brenda Pearson Coaching is a career happiness coaching practice located in Sarnia. Through group and individual coaching programs, Brenda helps individuals get out of their career ruts and elevate their untapped potential. In addition to one-on-one services, Brenda Pearson Coaching partners with values-based companies to deliver programming. Brenda strives to enable individuals to bring their best and real selves to work each day, recognizing that a happy employee is the heart and soul of a thriving and growing company.
Respect Your Mother (RYM)
Respect Your Mother started as a small one-time collaboration between friends, Meagan Rice and Aleah Piggott, that was so well received by the community the duo turned into a full brick and mortar storefront in Petrolia. Respect Your Mother sells sustainable home goods, clothing, and body care products. Most recently, RYM launched a small-scale refillery to provide environmentally conscious alternatives for everyday products to our community. The business partners plan to continue to offer educational insight into what it means to lighten our footprint on this world.
Tribal Lands Safety Company
James Cosgrove is the founder and CEO of Tribal Lands Safety & Rescue, and Tribal Lands Security Service, a 100% indigenous owned company, looking to engage with the local First Nations. Tribal Lands Safety Company offers training such as First Aid, Confined Space, H2S alive, and many other courses. They provide safety services for oil companies who operate within the greater Grande Prairie area, Northern British Columbia, and Sarnia Ontario.
More information on the Starter Company Plus Program can be found at sarnialambton.on.ca/starter-company or by contacting Chantelle Core at chantelle@sarnialambton.on.ca
Program Contact
Chantelle Core
Manager, Business Enterprise Centre
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
519-332-1820
chantelle@sarnialambton.on.ca