June 25, 2025 – The St. Catharines Enterprise Centre is accepting applications for the
2025 Starter Company Plus program.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and
delivered by the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre, Starter Company Plus supports
businesses that are new start-ups, within the first two years of operations, part-time and
expanding into full time operations, or a newly purchased business.
Starter Company Plus is a training and mentorship program with eligibility for program
participants to apply for a limited number of grants of up to $5,000.
The program is open to entrepreneurs who: are 18 years of age or older, are planning to
operate the business full time and are not students or employed full time. Business must
be located in Niagara, legal in Ontario, and be an independent venture. For full eligibility
criteria, program requirements, online applications and more program information visit
https://www.investinstc.ca/site/startercompany.
Applications close at 4 p.m. Monday, July 21, 2025.
Last year, the Enterprise Centre awarded 16 grants to Starter Company Plus program
participants. Since 2013, more than 100 new businesses received grants through
Starter Company Plus while hundreds of others completed the training and mentorship
sessions through the Enterprise Centre to strengthen St. Catharines economy by
creating local jobs.