Community Futures Peterborough Brings Entrepreneurship 101 Workshop Series In-Person to Peterborough County

Community Futures Peterborough Brings Entrepreneurship 101 Workshop Series In-Person to Peterborough County

Peterborough, ON – As part of its week-long celebrations for Small Business Week 2025, Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) is launching Entrepreneurship 101: County Edition, a condensed version of its popular Entrepreneurship 101 workshop series delivered in-person in Peterborough County. This three-part series will help local entrepreneurs spark ideas, strengthen business skills, and connect with peers while bringing expert-led training directly to communities across the County.

“Entrepreneurship 101 has always been about empowering people to turn their ideas into action,” said Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications at Community Futures Peterborough. “By bringing this series to the County, we’re meeting entrepreneurs where they are, removing barriers to access and supporting business growth in every corner of our region.”

Running through the winter of 2026, E101: County Edition makes entrepreneurship education more accessible for rural business owners and residents with new ideas. Whether participants are just getting started or looking to grow an existing venture, the sessions offer practical tools, insights, and networking opportunities—all close to home.

“Investments in rural communities help diversify and grow local economies, making growth more inclusive in our region,” said Dave Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha. “We need to nurture local entrepreneurs and give them the tools they need to collaborate and innovate, removing any barriers that stand in the way of their success.”

Peterborough County plays a vital role in the region’s economy, with businesses spanning agriculture, tourism, retail, and manufacturing. Hosting workshops locally ensures that County-based entrepreneurs can access the same high-quality training and resources as those in the city.

E101: County Edition includes three interactive sessions:

• Wednesday, January 21 – 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Havelock Seniors Centre, Havelock – Ideation and Business Planning with Allison Adam: Learn how to take your idea from concept to action with tools for idea generation, validation, and business planning.
• Wednesday, February 4 – 9:00 – 11:00 AM, Cavan Monaghan Community Centre – Marketing and Branding with Rose Terry: Explore how to tell your story, reach customers, and build a strong, authentic brand.
• Wednesday, February 18 – 9:00 – 10:00 AM, Marshland Centre, Lakefield – Funding and Cash Flow with Braden Clark: Understand the numbers that drive your business, focusing on cash flow management and funding options.

"We know that innovative business ideas can come from anywhere—including right here in our rural communities. Peterborough County is proud to support Entrepreneurship 101: County Edition, a valuable initiative that makes business training more accessible to residents across the region,” said Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark. “We sincerely thank Community Futures Peterborough for bringing this opportunity closer to home and empowering local entrepreneurs to take the next step in their small business journey.”

Participants will also benefit from networking opportunities, local success stories, and actionable takeaways they can apply immediately.

“Entrepreneurship can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Allison Adam, Entrepreneurship Officer at Community Futures Peterborough. “Through this series, we’re breaking it down into simple, practical steps so entrepreneurs can see the real potential in their ideas.”

Community Futures Peterborough is offering this special series free of charge, with space limited.

Registration is now open at cfpeterborough.ca.

About Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City and County of Peterborough. It has invested more than $42 million in loan dollars supporting 1,300+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,600 jobs in the City and the County. CFP is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Community Futures Program. In 2024, Community Futures Peterborough began delivery of the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program, funded by the Province of Ontario. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County. The Business Advisory Centre provides a full suite of wrap-around business advisory services from launch to exit and currently advises hundreds of local businesses annually.