PELA CFDC « Build A New Life in Prince Edward County

Get your Business Ready for Summer…PELA CFDC Small Business Loans

Get up to $15,000 in financing at 5.5% interest over 3 years to get your business ready for summer!

Financing approvals based on the completion of a detailed loan application, business plan and due diligence. Interest rates based on risk assessment and credit history.

Are You Eligible?
*You are a new or existing business located in Prince Edward or Lennox & Addington County.
*You are the owner on record.
*The funds will assist with new staff, inventory, building infrastructure or capital equipment.
*For more information on this and other programs visit www.pelacfdc.ca

Prince Edward/Lennox & Addington Community Futures Development Corporation (PELA CFDC) is a community based non-profit corporation aimed at encouraging local entrepreneurship and economic development. Along with grants and loans PELA CFDC provides advice and business planning free of charge.

PELA CFDC works closely with communities to assess local challenges, and to look at new ideas and opportunities that could strengthen their economies. PELA CFDC has teamed up with Queens University and formed the PELA Institute for Rural Economic Development which provides a place for communities and academics to come together to share research on various topics that affect the local economy. To learn more visit www.pelaird.ca

Please visit their website www.pelacfdc.ca often and sign-up for their monthly e-newsletter to stay informed about their programs, services, and events.

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Need help connecting your business to the right resources? Contact the Community Development Department cdd@pecounty.on.ca 613.476.2148 x709. We are here to help.

Tags: PELA CFDC, Small Business Loans
Comments (0) | Posted around a week ago by CommunityDevelopment

Making it in the County

Contributed by: Gillian Chapman, Business Development Manager,PELA CFDC

There are all sorts of new businesses coming to Prince Edward County to make their mark. The Carriage House Cooperage is a great example of people with a dream, and the passion and drive to make it a reality. Pete Bradford and Marla Cameron have brought a whole new level of skills to the local wine region, and are ‘pushing the envelope’ with innovative ideas, including barrel flavouring with locally sourced wood.

PELA CFDC, as part of the marketing campaign for the Small Business Stimulus Loan, visited The Carriage House Cooperage to see if we could offer some support for this new, ‘old’ business. The timing worked out perfectly, and Pete and Marla took full advantage of the business support offered. PELA CFDC now considers itself a strategic partner with this business, offering free business advice and access to capital (Loans and Grants), along with the other 150+ businesses in its loan and grant portfolio’s.

The video above shows how The Carriage House Cooperage viewed its dealings with PELA CFDC.

If your business needs support, come and talk to Gillian Chapman on 613-476-7901 x203 or gc@pelacfdc.ca.

PELA CFDC is a Not For Profit, federally funded ‘grass roots’ organisation run by volunteers. It’s the volunteers that make the decisions on the direction of the organisation, and who receives loans and grants. This is a volunteer opportunity which disburses over $2m per year in loans and grants. If you want to help shape the future of small business in Prince Edward or Lennox and Addington County, contact Craig Desjardins, Executive Director, PELA CFDC on 613-476-7901 x201 or cd@pelacfdc.ca

Tags: Business Support, innovative ideas, new businesses, PELA CFDC, Small Business, The Carriage House Cooperage, volunteers, wine region
Comments (1) | Posted over two years ago by Gillian Chapman

From Nunavut to Picton to make a dream come true

this blog is contributed by Janet Davies
photo by Graham Davies

Natalie Babcock gives handsome Brooklyn a holiday groom.

As far as I know, Natalie Babock & Kyle Wood are the first couple to come to the County from Nunavut. Kyle is a conservation officer working with the MNR at Glenora. Natalie is a professional dog groomer, originally from WaWa, about 200 kms north of Sault Ste. Marie. Here’s what she told me.

“We loved Nunavut, but not much call for dog grooming up there, so I somehow became the postmistress! When Kyle got a job in the County I was excited because this place is like a mecca for small business. I knew I could open a shop, what I didn’t expect was to be so successful so quickly. I took a business plan to PELA CFDC – very aware that I’m not like other businesses opening here, not a winery or tourism-based. But they gave me a loan. Then I met Dave Cleave who offered me affordable space in Picton. He converted what was storage space in the Lockyer Building for me, and it’s worked perfectly. We’re right on Main St. but set back, private and safe for the animals. It’s the best of both worlds. My business is called Aspen’s.

Other local groomers have been awesome! Friendly and welcoming. Not like some places I’ve worked where it’s all competitive and catty. Here people work together. I remember one of them saying “There’s easily enough animals to go round.” We refer clients to each other. I use Parkers Barkers products, and I have adoptable kittens in the shop for the Humane Society.

Are most dogs easy to work with? It varies. I’m very calm. Rescued dogs can be touchy. You need tons of patience to do this job, and I have that. I love my work. Winter slows down, but summer is crazy busy. I get walk-ins, visitors who say, ”Can you help me? Our dog stinks!”

It’s just like creative hair cutting. There are classic cuts, and owners have their own ideas, but I have ideas, too, and we can have fun with it. I do a little dyeing on request, lion cuts for cats, sometimes a coloured Mohawk on a small dog. Some of my clients used to take their dogs to Belleville. Now I have Belleville dogs coming to me.”

Natalie looks much younger than her 31 years, and new clients don’t always recognize her as Aspen’s owner. But that’s what she is: owner of a thriving business servicing locals and visitors, a young woman who came to the County for the opportunities it offers.

Tags: animals in the county, aspens grooming, Creative Economy, dog grooming, graham davies, janet davies, natalie babcock, new business in the County, PELA CFDC, Picton, picton downtown, young people in prince edward county
Comments (2) | Posted over two years ago by Jan Davies