Searching for Self-employment / Entrepreneurship

Provides solutions to the challenges and obstacles small business owners and entrepreneurs face, from start-up to expansion. Assists all types of companies from home based, retail, trades, service, agri-business to manufacturing.

Provides the following to small business and/or entrepreneurs:

• loans
• growth financing
• business development
• business plan assistance
• market research assistance
• specialized seminars and training
• cashflow forecasting
• resource centre with books, videos and boardrooms
• referrals to bookkeeping services

Works in partnership with business, all levels of government and the community at large to actively promote, encourage and facilitate community and economic development in Chatham-Kent.

Provides support to start-up and small enterprises during their initial years of development and operation.

Services include:

• Free and confidential consultations helping with management, marketing, technology and financing
• Business plan reviews
• Current information - brochures, articles, directories
• Guidance on licenses, permits and registrations
• Learning and networking opportunities
• Importing and exporting information
• Information on patenting, copyrighting or trade-marking your original idea
• Internet and computer access for business research and planning
• Access to consulting services and information

Operates in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

Promotes Chatham-Kent as a location for business, industry and tourism destinations * Assists to strengthen local economies and business infrastructure Business Attraction Services:

• Communicates with senior national and international business leaders and Provincial and Federal Government decision-makers to identify Chatham-Kent as a potential location for new investment
• Maintains relationships and audiences with decision makers at the Provincial level in sectors such as automotive, finance, education, health care and information technology Business Retention and Expansion Services: Gathers community intelligence in support of local business' specific issues and acts as a spokesperson on local issues and related business matters Entrepreneurial Services:
• Provides business start-up support to new entrepreneurs in the communities of Chatham-Kent
• Provides the local agricultural community with business planning and information relative to sector activities in the communities of Chatham-Kent
• Promotes opportunities and provides support to the existing service and commercial sectors in the communities of Chatham-Kent

A committee of council set up to assist with the beautification of the business districts, attracting business to the area, supporting events that will attract business and tourists to the area and supporting our membership through development workshops.

Chatham-Kent and Essex County contact for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Access point OMAFRA program & technical materials; information & application for OMAFRA funding programs; contact point for local agricultural issues

Key Contacts

• AGRICORP Customer Action Centre: 1-888-247-4999
• OFIDP (Ontario Farm Income Disaster Program): 1-877-838-5144
• Farm Business Registration: 1-800-469-2285
• Foodland Ontario: 519-826-3643

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario

• skills training and financial support for laid-off workers

Services for Employers

• help in identifying their human resource skill requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Connects newcomers with programs and information relating to employment, skills and career development and professional employer connections through networking. Program includes:

• Labour market information and referrals
• One-on-one coaching, information sessions, events and networking activities
• Assistance with business start-up and mentoring
• Pre-employment training to become job ready

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Youth Job Connection

• paid pre-employment services
• job matching, paid job placements with placement supports for participants and hiring incentives for employers
• mentorship, education and work transition supports

Youth Job Connection Summer

• summer job opportunities and part-time job placements during the year

Comprehensive employment and job search services * assessment of skills, interests and experience * job search strategies, including resume preparation * information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities * on-the-job training, work experience * help in maintaining employment * information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario Program (previously Second Career Program) - Skills training and financial support for laid-off workers

Services for employers - Help in identifying human resource skills requirements * matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience * support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant - Financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees * available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Youth Job Connection - Paid pre-employment services * job matching * paid job placements with placement supports for participants and hiring incentives for employers * mentorship * education and work transitions supports

Youth Job Connection Summer - Summer job opportunities and part-time job placements during the year

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario

• skills training and financial support for laid-off workers

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Youth Job Connection

• paid pre-employment services
• job matching, paid job placements with placement supports for participants and hiring incentives for employers
• mentorship, education and work transitions supports

Youth Job Connection Summer

• summer job opportunities and part-time job placements during the year

Helps businesses grow to achieve success and sustainability to be an asset to the community by offering flexible, low cost business loans, business counselling, and referrals to partner organizations.

Services include:

• Advice and consultation
• Business plan consultation
• Marketing plan consultation
• One-on-One start-up advice
• Small business seminars
• provides ONLY advice and consultation services for small businesses and entrepreneurs

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario

• Skills training and financial support for laid off workers
• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for Employers

• Help in identifying their human resource skill requirements; matching of position/workplace needs to participants' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• Support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• Financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• Available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Offers $3000 grants and mentoring to students who establish and run their own company over the summer.

A free information and advisory service for anyone interested in starting their own business and for existing small business operators. A Advisor will assist with preparation of business plans as well as provide advice and direction on locating additional information/resources to support business development/growth.

Funding opportunities programs are available for young people 15-29 who are returning to school through the Summer Company Program.

Attracting new industry and investment; attracting new residents; retaining and growing the businesses and industries already making Sarnia-Lambton home - public and private sector collaboration with business leaders, educational institutions and municipal government; coordinating community-based economic-development initiatives

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario (formerly Second Career Program)

• skills training and financial support for laid-off workers

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employee
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

A community directed, not-for-profit corporation leading Sarnia Lambton in its approach to workforce development and local labor market planning * operating as part of Workforce Planning Ontario mandated through the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to conduct and disseminate local labour market research and engage community stakeholders in a planning process that supports local solutions to local issues.

COVID-19 - The office is currently closed to the general public. Call for an appointment.

Helps new and existing businesses to be more successful, thereby, creating permanent jobs by providing term loans to a maximum of $300,000 at a rate of prime plus 2-7%, free business consulting and counselling services. Helps Community Economic Development in: business, culture and infrastructure.

Help at least one charity or non-profit organization each year to bring a professional image to the organization and to help amplify their voice within the community

• annual WindUp competition offered yearly (January) traditionally been open to non-profit and small business
• awards $10,000 -$15,000 worth of services to the winner