The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre can connect you with regional programs and supports to help your business. Check out the supports available and find one that fits your business needs and interests.
Business improvement areas
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of property and business owners within a specified district who join together in beautification, promotion and other development activities aimed at stimulating local business in that district. Learn more about the various Windsor and Essex County BIAs.
Windsor
- Downtown Windsor BIA
- Ford City Business Improvement Association
- Olde Riverside Town Centre Business Association
- Pilette Village BIA
- Sandwich Towne BIA
- Uptown Ottawa Business Improvement Association
- Via Italia BIA
- Walkerville Business Improvement Association
- Wyandotte Town Centre BIA
Essex County
- Belle River On the Lake BIA
- Essex Centre Business Improvement Area
- Kingsville BIA
- Tecumseh BIA
- Uptown Leamington BIA
Community Futures Essex County
Community Futures Essex County is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing business financing and counseling to entrepreneurs in rural Essex County. The organization provides business development services and access to business loans of up to $300,000. Its service area includes the rural communities of Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, Leamington, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Pelee Island and Tecumseh.
Chambers of Commerce
Windsor-Essex has several local chambers of commerce representing hundreds of member businesses from a variety of industry sectors. The chambers support businesses through advocacy, relationship building and resources.
- Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce
- Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce
- Leamington District Chamber of Commerce
- Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce
Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator
Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator provides start ups with shared office space, on-site training and mentoring in a collaborative environment. They can help make your new business a success.
EPICentre
Entrepreneurship Practice Innovation Centre (EPIC) is the entrepreneurial hub at the University of Windsor. The centre offers the EPIC Discovery Program to University of Windsor students or recent graduates who need help assessing their business ideas to see if they satisfy a need within the marketplace and have potential for success. The EPIC Founders Program is also available to University of Windsor students and recent graduates to help them turn their business ideas into start-ups. As part of the program, you’ll receive mentoring, business coaching, seminars and shared office space.
Genesis Experiential Learning and Career Centre
The Genesis Experiential Learning and Career Centre at St. Clair College is the gateway to experiential learning and career readiness supports at St. Clair College. The centre provides student and employer supports and services.
New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence
The New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence provides access to skills and job training, language courses, market research and more! They offer a variety of supports for newcomers looking to enter the Canadian job market.
WETech Alliance
The WETech Alliance offers intensive coaching, expert insight, strategic planning and financial assistance to tech entrepreneurs in the Windsor-Essex area looking to scale their business.
Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN)
WECAN connects investors with local companies to provide mentorship, funding and advisory services. Learn how to become an angel investor or apply for investment support through WECAN.
Women’s Enterprise Skills Training
The Women’s Enterprise Skills Training in Windsor help women looking to find employment opportunities, access education and training, networking opportunities, funding and more.
Workforce WindsorEssex
Workforce WindsorEssex provides those looking for work with access to job boards, career opportunities, labour market information and programs to help improve and expand skills. They also offer local resources for employers and small business owners looking for more information on labour market tools, data, research reports, guides and quick links.
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program
The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is Canada’s leading innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized businesses.
If you operate an innovative small or medium-sized business in Canada, IRAP can help you build your innovation capacity and take your ideas to market. They provide this through financial assistance, advisory services and connections to the best business and R&D expertise in Canada.
