Partnership aims to help entrepreneurs bypass pitfalls
Businesses in Welland can expect to find a new helping hand.
A partnership between the Welland Development Commission (WDC), Welland Job Gym and St. Catharines’ Enterprise Centre kicked off last week as representatives opened an Enterprise Centre office at the Job Gym, 225 East Main St. Open on the first and third Tuesday of every month, the centre will bring a host of business resources under one roof through partnerships with the Welland Public Library, Welland Multicultural Centre, Venture Niagara, Ontario Office Works, Ontario Works, Employment Solutions and others.
“We started with the objective of how do we assist business,” said Coun. David McLeod, chair of the WDC.
“They (businesses) have one place to come to,” said McLeod, adding, “This is a significant step towards business assistance in Welland.”
The centre will offer both one-on-one consulting for potential and existing businesses in addition to group seminars on a variety of topics including financing, marketing, business plan development and more.
Dan Degazio, manager for the WDC, explained that there are a host of hurdles to jump in the process of founding a new business.
“We’re hoping we can bypass some of those pitfalls,” he said, noting the centre will help business owners avoid making costly mistakes. He pointed out that often entrepreneurs may not know about essential topics such as taxes, licensing, finding employees and locations.
“There are all types of things that, until you start a business, you don’t know about,” he said, adding that with 300 people passing through the Job Gym daily, the location makes a perfect setting to reach out to potential entrepreneurs.
“We’re basically just growing the Welland economy one entrepreneur at a time,” said Enterprise Centre manager Jessica Potts.
“We like for people to leave informed, feeling important and inspired,” she said, explaining that the consultation and seminars with real people provides something that a computer can’t.
A complete list of seminars can be found at www.jobgym.com. Appointments are required for consultation and prospective seminar attendees must register in advance. For more information, or to register, call 905-732-7655.
Welland businesses get help. Coun. Jim Larouche, Job Gym manager Deanna Villela, Enterprise Centre manager Jessica Potts, vice mayor Paul Grenier, Coun. David McLeod, Coun. Mark Carl and Welland Development Commission board member Sandor Szabo joined together last week at the Welland Job Gym to open a new Enterprise Centre that will provide seminars and consultation services for new and existing Welland businesses. STEVE HENSCHEL/STAFF PHOTO
