Starter Company Plus

The Starter Company Plus Arts and Culture grant is available to entrepreneurs that meet the following criteria:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Not be attending school or planning to return to school while enrolled in the program
• Be devoting a minimum number of 10 hours per week to their business
• Not be enrolled in any other government-funded employment program
• Be a resident of Stratford, Perth County or St. Mary's with ability to demonstrate proof of physical address
• Own a business in the Arts & Culture industry

Eligible entrepreneurs must also have small businesses that meet the following criteria:

• Must have majority ownership and the ability to demonstrate proof of ownership and/or shareholder agreement
• Must be located in Stratford, Perth County or St. Mary's with the ability to demonstrate proof of physical address
• Must not be a past recipient of any stream of the Starter Company Plus Grant
• Businesses that require certification and/or license must be current at the time of application
• Businesses that operate year-round, i.e. not seasonal businesses, with consistent revenues month over month
• Must be able to commit to in-person and/or virtual entrepreneurship training
• Must have already invested 25 per cent of the grant amount ($1,250) into the business at the time of application (cash, marketing efforts, equipment, commercial rent or other legitimate startup expenses) or in kind

The following businesses are ineligible for a Starter Company Plus Arts and Culture grant:

• Online businesses that are resellers of existing products from other manufacturers (e.g. resellers of beauty and/or fashion accessories, phones and phone accessories, tablets, computers, etc.)
• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), retirement homes and long-term care homes
• Technology applications which are not market-ready
• Student housing and other property rentals
• Quasi-financial institutions or money service and money transfer businesses (including insurance companies and financial services companies)
• Cryptocurrency (e.g. Bitcoin) businesses and traders
• Businesses brokering funds or taking on a fiduciary duty handling funds for clients (including investment, insurance, and real estate brokers who handle funds in trust for clients)
• Brokers (insurance, real estate, investment, etc.) who are working for an existing firm are not seen to be creating a new business
• Businesses and platforms that raise funds for charities
• Charities and non-profits
• Franchises
• Partnerships of equal stake
• MLM organizations
• Collection agencies
• Businesses that raise investment capital for other businesses
• Businesses that include or promote financing from equity crowd funding (share capital)
• Any businesses that produce and/or primarily retail products whose ingredients include any derivatives of marijuana/cannabis, psilocybin or any other substances included on Schedule I, II, III and/or IV of the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (S.C. 1996, c. 19)
• Businesses that do not fall under the industry category of Arts and Culture

If you are unsure, please inquire.

Applications for the Starter Company Plus Arts and Culture grant are evaluated by a review committee of experienced staff based on the following selection criteria:

• Application should meet business and applicant requirements
• Business viability based on:
• Proof of concept: showing evidence that your business product or service has been tested or demonstrated in a real-world scenario, indicating its feasibility and potential for market success
• Customer validation: demonstrating demand for your product or service in the market
• Clear revenue model: identifying one or more revenue/sales channels
• Proposed business's potential for growth and its ability to create jobs
• Contribution of 25 per cent of the grant amount as monetary investment towards the business or in kind investment