Getting back to business: Free business support for Georgina, East Gwillimbury entrepreneurs

YSpace Georgina Business Incubator/Accelerator Hub is now open for business supports

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 18, 2022
Amanda Persico

Small businesses and local entrepreneurs are getting a boost from York University with the new business incubator/accelerator project.

The new YSpace Georgina Business Incubator/Accelerator Hub is located at 1 Market St. in Sutton.

The hub project focuses on supporting local startups and existing businesses in both East Gwillimbury and Georgina during the pandemic recovery phase.

And YSpace programs and supports are free.

The two-year business incubator/accelerator program cost about $325,000 and was funded in part by both towns.

The new program comes on the heels of the Business Bounce Back program, a joint venture between York University, East Gwillimbury and Georgina. The Bounce Back program supported businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector to pivot during the pandemic.

“Sometimes small businesses need a boost to get to the next level,” said former Bounce Back program participant and Cloverhill Flowers co-founder Amanda Gordon.

“In today’s small business world, you have to be an accountant, a social media wizard and a marketing expert.

“Without support like this to fill the gaps, you can easily flounder.”

Similar to the Bounce Back program, the main focus of the YSpace Georgina Business Incubator/Accelerator Hub is fostering collaboration with other business owners and establishing a mentorship program with a collection of on-demand, in-person and virtual business-specific programming.

The business hub, which recently opened, offers both in-person and virtual programs, removing barriers to accessing entrepreneurship and small business resources for rural communities.

“This (hub) will be a catalyst for business transformation,” said Amir Asif, York University’s research and innovation during the hub’s official opening.

By leveraging the success of other YSpace programs, the incubator/accelerator hub will help local entrepreneurs realize their potential, he added.

Since its inception, about 540 new ventures benefitted from YSpace programming, generating about $119 million in revenue and creating about 890 new jobs across the region.

“Entrepreneurship and business development play an important role in the economic growth within our communities,” said East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson.

Aside from the brick-and-mortar business hub in Georgina, East Gwillimbury will be home to a number of in-person programs in temporary locations.

Entrepreneurs and small and new business owners will also have access to high-speed internet and laptops in the hub as well as video conferencing options and photography tools for e-commerce and online content creation.

“There’s a wide variety of business supports without having to leave the community,” said Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners were among some of the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic.

And the opening of YSpace Georgina comes at a pivotal time as many small businesses are looking toward the recovery phase.

“This is a game changer,” said York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney. “Small businesses truly are backbone of the community. This program will help support and strengthen the very heart of our economy.”

“We owe it to ourselves to double-down and help small businesses,” agreed York-Simcoe MP Scot Davidson, who comes to federal politics with an entrepreneurial background.

“Businesspeople, that’s our community.”

For more information, visit yspace.yorku.ca.