MEDIA RELEASE
Leamington, ON — Leamington will soon have a new business opening in its uptown.
Congratulations to Alissa Enns, winner of the Municipality of Leamington’s 2022 Reinvent This Space competition. Alissa, whose business idea is a plant-based bakeshop, will receive up to $15,000 in Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grant funding to cover 12 months of rent for an Uptown Leamington storefront.
“The Plant-Based Bakeshop will be a community-focused café that brings people together in unique and innovative ways,” said Alissa Enns. “The Bakeshop will offer plant-based baked goods, specialty drinks including coffee, tea and smoothies, light meals such as soups, salads, bowls and sandwiches, and products from local vendors.”
“A community-focused plant-based bakeshop will be a fantastic addition to Leamington’s uptown,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. “Alissa’s passion for business and community, and her well-developed business plan really show the value she can bring to our community.”
The Plant-Based Bakeshop was selected by the Reinvent This Space judges who evaluated the top three applicants to the program. All participants received in-depth training and support from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, a division of Invest Windsor Essex, to help develop their business plans. Participants were also offered in-depth mentoring from a panel of local business leaders over the course of the competition.
The Plant-based Bakeshop is anticipated to open its doors in 2022.
The Municipality would like to thank the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, and the following Reinvent This Space judges for their commitment and in-kind support:
- Amy Borrelli, Owner & Founder, The Branding Loft
- Deborah L. Rollier, Partner, Ricci, Enns, Rollier and Setterington LLP
- Hilda MacDonald, Mayor
- Jen Dawson, Commercial & Personal Insurance Account Executive, Ives Insurance Brokers Ltd.
- John Dean, Branch Manager, Kindred Credit Union
- Michelle Fortier, Interim Coordinator, Leamington Uptown Business Improvement Area
- Renee Daudlin-Iacobelli, Owner and VP of Operations, Insight Advantage Inc.
- Tyler Hicks, Partner, Hicks, MacPherson, Iatonna, Driedger LLP
- Wendy Parsons, General Manager, Leamington District Chamber of Commerce
Media Contacts:
Kelly Sfetkidis
Manager of Communications & Public Relations
Municipality of Leamington
ksfetkidis@leamington.ca
519-326-5761 ext. 1117
Natasha Marar
Manager, Marketing & Entrepreneurship Programs
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre
nmarar@webusinesscentre.com
519-253-6900 ext. 2231
