Cutting the ribbon to the new SBEC, L to R: Gayle Bogart, EBRC Board of Directors Presi-dent; Bonnie Vowel, Warden of Elgin County; Dennis Broome, St.Thomas EDC President; Cliff Barwick, St. Thomas Mayor; John Martin, MEDT; and Steve Peters MPP.

Answering the call for local area small businesses, the new Elgin/St.Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) opened its doors with great fanfare and celebration. The April 16, 2010 event was one of the largest events ever held at the Elgin Business Resource Centre (EBRC) and was attended by 75 invited guests and a number of dignitaries.

The new SBEC is the result of a solid partner-ship between the EBRC, St. Thomas Economic Devel-opment Corpora-tion (EDC), the County of Elgin, and the govern-ment of Ontario. Located within the EBRC at 300 S. Edgeware in St. Thomas, the new Elgin/St.Thomas SBEC enhances and extends EBRC services with full-time staff dedicated to help meet the needs of Elgin County’s ever-growing number of entrepreneurs.

With the close of many businesses and factories in re-cent years, there has been a significant increase in the

OPEN NOW! NEW ELGIN/ST. THOMAS SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE

INSIDE:New SBEC Story continued 2First Sand Plains Loan in Elgin County 2Networking Wednesdays 2Success Story: Peter Power 3Buy Local, Buy Fresh Recipe 4Meet the Staff 4

www.elgincfdc.ca

MAY 2010

number of ambitious entrepreneurs in Elgin County. The EBRC is visited by 1000+ entrepreneurs annually, including walk-in clients right off the street. These in-dividuals seek business start-up advice and counselling from concept ideas right through to implementation and ongoing operation. The new Elgin/St.Thomas SBEC’s qualified business counsellors will offer these new start-ups, as well as exist-ing small businesses the essential services they need. Services include guid-ance in business plan devel-opment, counselling, referrals to local business profes-sionals, information on licenses and permits, plus special workshops, seminars, and events. The centre offers on-site resources as well, such as on-site business registration, public computer stations for research and planning, and a resource library.

The Elgin/St.Thomas SBEC will also deliver the Govern-ment of Ontario’s Summer Company program, which is a program for young student entrepreneurs starting ...more on page 2.

...continued from page 1.their own summer business. Eligible students receive up to $3,000 for making their business ideas work over the summer. The new SBEC will help those students in the program with hands-on mentoring and advice.

The Elgin/St. Thomas SBEC is one of 57 Small Business Enterprise Centres located within the province. Each centre is strategically located within an hour’s drive of cities and town centres to allow small business entre-preneurs the opportunity to receive the counselling and help needed to launch, grow, and maintain their businesses. Prior to the opening of the Elgin/St. Thomas SBEC, many entrepreneurs had to seek services from the London SBEC for provincially oper-ated programs.

“The EBRC is a Community Futures Development Corporation, which is non-profit orga-nization that’s both federally and pro-vincially funded. This SBEC venture is a very special achievement and one of few SBECs in the province that involves all four levels of government: federal, provincial, municipal, and county. It really is a coup for the area and one that’ll help even more entrepreneurs succeed,” said John Regan.

Learn more about the Elgin/St. Thomas SBEC. Contact Gordon Hall at 519-633-7597 ext. 39 or

John Regan at ext. 34.

NETWORKING WEDNESDAYSJoin one of our Networking Wednesday meetings and hear informative speakers deliver information you can use right away. Meetings are held at our offices at 300 South Edgeware Rd. the last Wednesday of every month from 5:00-6:30 pm. Registration is required for each meeting. A small fee applies. Call 519-633-7597. UPCOMING MEETINGS:MAY 26 – Personal Health & Wellness Vital for Small Business, Panel discussionJUNE 30 – Presenting Yourself Professionally, Toastmasters

FIRST SAND PLAINS LOAN IN ELGIN COUNTYOn April 9, 2010 the first ever Sand Plains loan was awarded to an Elgin County business. Family Flowers, a 15-year business owned and operated by Ed and Annette Weesjes, was awarded an $82,000 loan for upgrading perennial greenhouses, installing high-efficiency furnaces, updating the customer service area with new doors, ex-panding the parking lot, and updating recycling capabilities.

The Sand Plains Com-munity Development Fund is a program created to assist rural communities in the Sand Plains region to build a more diversified economy. The fund is designed to help com-munity initiatives which support regional development, stimulate business, investment and job creation, as well as strengthen populations and attract visitors.

EBRC’s Business Coun-sellor, Glenn Thorel, and General Manager, John Regan, helped the Weesjes with their loan application. The loan to Family Flowers falls under the fund’s Agri-business and Tourism categories.

Joe Preston MP congratulating Annette and Ed Weejses on receving their Sand Plains loan for Family Flowers.

Attending the announcement, L to R: John Regan, EBRC GM; Joe Preston MP; Annette and Ed Weejses; Glenn Thorel, EBRC Business Counsellor; Roberto Quay, Sand Plains Steering Committee; John Wilson, Mayor of Malahide Township; and Eric Loewen, EBRC Board of Directors.

John Regan, EBRC General Manager welcomes visitors to the new SBEC.

Peter PowerMaster ElectricianFully Insured226-234-2764allmainpower@yahoo.com

ECRA/ESA#7006795

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

All Main Power

SUCCESS STORIES:SHINING BRIGHT WITH ALL MAIN POWER – PETER POWERPeter Power knows how hard it is to run your own business and to be self-employed. He started his own electrical contractor business in 2004 in Barrie, but closed it after a year to work at an established company and support his growing family. In 2009, Peter’s wife got a new job in London spurring the family to pull up stakes and move to St. Thomas. Shortly after arriving, several businesses closed and the city began to feel the effects of a depressed econ-omy, which overshadowed Peter’s own job prospects.

With his wife working at her new job, Peter took parental leave for their small child and then EI, but that didn’t last long. Peter had already started thinking about re-starting his business again in this brand new city.

Driven to succeed, Peter visited the EBRC to inves-tigate the Self-Employment Benefit Program and was accepted into the program in February 2009. Starting a business is a huge undertaking, “I kind of saw the program as a ledge to hold on to, as if starting my business was like jumping of a cliff,” Peter says. How-ever this time, instead of falling off that cliff, “The program showed me how to market myself and business better. It showed me what to watch for; where to put my ads; and most importantly, not to over extend myself,” Peter adds.

Peter Power, Master Electrician and owner of All Main Power. Call Peter at 226-234-2764 for all electrical needs - large or small. Big on customer service, Peter always returns a call.

The SEB (Self-Employment Benefit) Program is funded through the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

EBRC’s Pattie Steip was Peter’s counsel-lor during the SEB program. “Pattie helped by showing me different things I just wouldn’t have thought of.” says Peter. “The business plan was a bigger help than I thought it would be. I didn’t do one before with my past business, but this time, I could see where I wanted to go and what I had to do to get there. It was a lot better than simply guessing.” With Pattie’s help, Peter also learned how to manage his books and use his computer programs better, which is a good thing because three months after starting All Main Power his business really took off.

“I’m getting the business I wanted, but I expected to have more of it here in St. Thomas,” Peter states. About 90% of All Main Power’s business comes from London, but it isn’t for lack of trying. “I’m up against well-known, local businesses, which has made things tough,” Peter adds. In its first year, All Main Power’s advertising consisted of branded pamphlets distributed locally, Yellow Pages, and a small, local flyer. None of which helped his particular trade; however, placing an ad in the Elgin County Market produced a number of calls. Peter also investigated other avenues of getting his name out there and as a result received lots of London area business. “Some of my best customer contacts come from Kijiji online, which is free. I also have my ad posted on an internal bulletin board of a company. You really have to find these little areas to reach customers, but it works. I’m also trying to do more than others in customer service. I always return a call, regardless of how small the job is.”

All Main Power tackles any electrical job – large or small – for residential, commercial, and industrial. From panel upgrades to new lighting, wiring repair, and hot tub installations – All Main Power has come a long way in a year and has a very bright future ahead.

If you would like to see a story covered in the Elgin Advantage, please let us know by forwarding your information to:

300 South Edgeware RdSt Thomas, ON N5P 4L1

(519) 633-7597 or dwebster@elgincfdc.ca

www.elgincfdc.ca

Limited ad space is available. Please call for rates.

RHUBARB TORTE4 C finely chopped rhubarb1/2 C granulated sugar1 1/2 C oatmeal1/4 C flour1 1/2 C brown sugar1/2 cup butter1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions: Put rhubarb in bottom of 9-inch square cake pan. Spinkle rhubarb with granulated sugar. Mix remaining ingredients together. Spread evenly over rhubarb. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°. If desired, serve with ice cream or whipped topping. Makes 9 servings.

Sharon Degraw, Rosy Rhubarb Festival, Shedden. Flavours of Elgin IPM 2010 cookbook. Cookbook available at the EBRC.

Pattie Steip, Business Counsellor, EBRC can be reached at psteip@elgincfdc.ca or 519-633-7597 extension 36.

MEET THE STAFF:BUSINESS COUNSELLOR, PATTIE STEIP

If you visited the EBRC within the last 15 months to start your own business, chances are you probably ran into Pattie. She has an extensive background in finance, helping small businesses with their taxes, straight-ening out their books, and even providing computer assistance with financial programs.

Pattie combines 27 years of self-employment in business consulting and income tax with an 18-year teaching background to offer clients the right mix of expertise and guidance. For both new entrepreneurs and established businesses, Pattie is driven to helping them stay on the right financial track. “I’ve always loved what I do. Now in my position here, I see a variety of people at all different stages of their business. Working with them and teaching them, I can see that what I do has real results and that’s a great feeling,” Pattie says.

The SEB (Self-Employment Benefit) Program is funded through the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities. The Elgin Advantage is brought to you by the Elgin Business Resource Centre in cooperation with:

The EBRC is a proud sponsor of the Elgin-St.Thomas 2010 International Plowing Match:

SELF-EMPLOYMENT INFOSESSIONSLearn about working for yourself. Attend an info session to see if self-employment is right for you!

You must be unemployed and have registered with your counsellor at Employment Services Elgin prior to attending. Call your counsellor at 519-633-5200.

Sessions are 90 minutes and completely free. All sessions are held at the EBRC at 300 S. Edgeware.

UPCOMING INFO SESSIONS:May 12 & 26June 9 & 23