Business Resources

One woman is helping another on computer screen The Municipality of Trent Lakes believes in the value of community partnerships. Local business partners, connections and resources can help your business from start to growth through the efficient use of funding, creation of common goals and sense of community.

Local Business Chambers and Associations

Groups of local business owners and professionals that further the interests of businesses in the area through advocacy, networking opportunities and other member benefits.

Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

Through its many varied programs, events, and activities, the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism advances and promotes the well-being and interests of local businesses and communities they serve.

The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism offers three levels of membership to accommodate any budget, type of business or purpose for joining.

Buckhorn District Tourist Association and Welcome Centre

The Buckhorn District Tourism Association is a non-profit organization to help promote businesses and tourism in Buckhorn and the surrounding area.

Membership benefits:

Free listing in annual Tourist Guide publication.
Free listing on website with link to your business.
Free display of your brochures in Tourist Welcome Centre with referrals from staff.
Free promotion at trade shows in Canada and United States.
Referrals from other members to your business.
Receive legislative changes that may affect your business.
Network and round table discussion of concerns and ideas.
Opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors.
Receive copies of Board of Directors meetings and guest attend anytime.
Annual Meeting and Dinner.

Business partners, connections and resources

We are proud to partner with a variety of supportive economic development and business organizations that help not only us serve you better, but offer a variety of services and programs directly to our business entrepreneurs, owners and managers.

Business Advisory Centre (BAC)

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre is often an entrepreneur's first point of contact with the business support community.

They provide confidential and complimentary support services for clients in the City and County of Peterborough.

Knowledgeable team helps people of every age at every stage of starting, growing, or acquiring a business.
Services, consultations, tools, and resources are offered free of charge in order to help startups and small businesses succeed.
In addition to one-on-one consultations they also offer program workshops and webinars, e-Learning, and services that assist in starting a business or growing a business.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED)

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development is the lead regional economic development agency for the City and the County of Peterborough.

They work collaboratively with local stakeholders, to attract, retain and support businesses, investors, entrepreneurs, and visitors to nurture growth opportunities, and foster continued development of a vibrant, prosperous community with quality and sustainable jobs.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development offers customized support and solutions for local business retention and expansion including:

Site selection.
Facilitating funding and incentive programs.
Developing strategies and opportunities for export.
Assistance navigating regulatory processes.
Supporting infrastructure development.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism (PKT)

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism is a division of Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development, and the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the City and the County of Peterborough.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism provides industry leadership and destination marketing services to attract visitors to the region.

They are a not-for-profit, partnership-based organization with the objectives of promoting destination experiences, increasing visitation and economic impact for the industry, partners and community.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism promotes all tourism businesses in the region, and has over 400 registered tourism partners who are profiled on their website.

BizPaL - Online Business Permits and Licences

BizPaL is an innovative online service that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to information about business permits, licences and other requirements needed to start, operate and grow their business from the federal, provincial/territorial and participating municipal governments.

Benefits of BizPaL

Finding out which government requirements apply to a certain business type can be time consuming and frustrating. BizPaL was created to help identify what you may require, quickly and easily.

The information you need is available from a single source; entrepreneurs spend less time dealing with red tape--saving effort and money in the process--and more time building their business. The service is the result of strong collaboration between the federal, provincial/territorial and participating municipal governments and is designed with the following benefits in mind:

it's free to use
it saves time
it's available 24/7

Click here to launch BizPal

Community Futures Peterborough

Community Futures Peterborough is supported by the Government of Canada and managed by a local volunteer Board of Directors.

Community Futures Peterborough helps small and medium businesses access services and capital, enhances the local economic and employment growth through community-based planning and economic development initiatives.

Make an appointment with one of their team members to talk about where you want to be and what they can do to get you there.

Kinds of support:

Financial,
counselling, and
business development.
Will help you find out which of their services is the best fit for you.

Employment and Planning Peterborough (EPC)

Employment and Planning Peterborough offers a wealth of programs and services to assist employers and individuals seeking work with their employment and training goals.

If you have a job available

If you are licensed to operate in Ontario and provide employment in Ontario then

Employment and Planning Peterborough offers the following services

Supports small, medium and large business in the hiring of a diversified and stable workforce.
Can tailor services to suite your business needs providing as much or as little support as you need.

If you are seeking a job

There are a range of services and programs to assist you, whether you are looking for your first job, your next job or your dream job, they are here to help.

Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8)

Regional Tourism Organization 8 is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries to promote regional tourism activity in the area now branded as Kawarthas Northumberland.

They provide strategic and collaborative leadership to build, sustain and grow tourism in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes and County of Northumberland and work closely with businesses as stakeholder partners.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for the food, agriculture and rural sectors of Ontario.

The Ministry offers services and programs that support

economic growth and opportunities in rural Ontario
a competitive and productive agri-food sector,
sustainability of agriculture, and
provides business support to famers

Ontario Small Business Access

The Ontario Small Business Access provides a variety of support, information sources and advice on how to begin and run a small business in Ontario.

Canada starting a business sources

The Canada Starting a Business webpage provides a variety of federal support, information and advice on staring up a business in Canada.