Eleven Entrepreneurs Graduate as Brockville Forum Honors Top Founders

Eleven new entrepreneurs graduated from the Starter Company Plus program last week at a sold-out Small Business Success Forum held at the Brockville Memorial Centre. The event, organized under the theme "Grit, Growth and Greatness," moved from its previous Prescott venue to meet growing demand.

The evening marked Small Business Week in the region. It combined the graduation ceremony with two major awards: the Leeds and Grenville Immigrant Entrepreneur Award and the Leeds Grenville Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Who graduated and what they built?

The graduates run businesses spanning cafés, therapy services, dog waste removal and LiDAR-based tree consulting:

• Sarah Benning, EPICut Inc., Athens Township — custom laser engraving and personalized products
• Aiko Mackie, Pau Hana Coffee Inc., Brockville — specialty coffee, Japanese teas and homemade treats
• Cara Dixon, The Unapologetic Femme — size-inclusive women's clothing with a focus on body positivity
• Siobhan Mullen, Aluminators of Eastern Ontario — exterior property maintenance, including roof rejuvenation and gutter cleaning
• Tatiana Nedecheva, The Locks Therapy Centre Inc. — in-person and virtual mental health therapy
• Tyler Holmes, POOHDINI — professional dog waste removal
• Candice Berseth, French Touch of Colour, Elizabethtown-Kitley — color analysis and style consultations
• Lauren Hurley, Nurturing Roots Consulting — counseling, coaching and parenting support for mothers
• Ian Burnett, I.S.B Tree Consulting and Care, Front of Yonge — arboricultural consulting using LiDAR for 3D tree mapping
• Karen Lowry, Rideau Fit Co, Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands — health and fitness services
• Shannon Thompson, The Shanry Collective, North Grenville — a flexible coworking hub in Kemptville

Several graduates said the training changed how they run their companies. "I loved the program. The amount I learned in a short amount of time was phenomenal, but in particular, learning how to do a cash flow, that was a game-changer," said Dixon.

Holmes said the program sharpened both his plan and his network. "The program helped me make more contacts, gave me more confidence and helped me build a solid business plan," said Holmes.

Berseth pointed to the support structure. "With the program I gained a lot of confidence as the program is very supportive," she said.

Burnett, whose business already used advanced mapping technology, found the coursework humbling. "I thought I knew a lot about business, but after taking the course, it taught me a lot more about things that I did know and things I wanted to know more about, and meeting more people in the same situation that I'm in," he said.

How does the grant program work?

Participants first completed training in business fundamentals, business planning and cash flow management. They then pitched their business ideas to a local panel of business volunteers. Successful pitches made them eligible for grants of up to $5,000 to support business investments. Graduates also received ongoing coaching, attended additional workshops and are encouraged to stay connected to the local business network.

The program draws funding from three public bodies: the Province of Ontario, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, and the City of Brockville. The Thousand Islands Community Futures Corporation and Community Futures Grenville added $1,000 in support for each participant.

Who won the top awards?

The Leeds and Grenville Immigrant Entrepreneur Award went to Meet Prajapati, owner of SWAGAT Indian Grocery Store in Brockville. Prajapati moved to Canada from India 12 years ago. He built a business selling authentic Indian foods, spices and cultural products, and created a space where people from diverse backgrounds connect through food and culture. His contributions extend beyond retail: he has supported the local food bank, helped newcomer families find housing and employment, and championed cultural celebrations across the region.

The award is an initiative of the St. Lawrence-Rideau Immigration Partnership's Employment and Settlement Working Group, which includes the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, CSE Consulting, Upper Canada District School Board Settlement Services, the Employment and Education Centre, and the Volunteer Centre of St. Lawrence – Rideau.

The Leeds Grenville Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Nicole Hudson of Katarina's Coffee Shop in Prescott. Hudson owns the shop with her mother, Carla. The business serves breakfast, sandwiches, homemade soups, baked goods, desserts and custom cakes. The award recognizes an owner who shows perseverance, a willingness to take risks, patience, versatility, high energy and a strong drive to achieve.

Beyond the annual event, Leeds Grenville Small Business staff provide free consultations, tools, resources, events and workshops to small businesses across the region throughout the year — a pipeline that will feed the next cohort of graduates and award contenders.