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Dive into our latest blog posts, the Invest Barrie Quarterly Newsletter for up-to-date economic insights, and the Small Business Monthly Newsletter for resources, programs, and opportunities to help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive.
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Summer Company Spotlight: Student Fix and Clean
August 17, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Evan Connell and Student Fix & Clean!
Summer Company Spotlight: Koala Charmed
August 17, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Tristan Gundert and Koala Charmed!
Summer Company Spotlight: Georgian Bay Bin Cleaning
August 17, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Scott Watson and Georgian Bay Bin Cleaning!
Summer Company Spotlight: Stitch and Style with Ruth
August 14, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Ruth Adam and Stitch and Style with Ruth!
Summer Company Spotlight: Mindful Intentions
August 14, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Sarina Parsons and Mindful Intentions!
Summer Company Spotlight: Georgian Bay Weaves
August 14, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Nathan Babcock and Georgian Bay Weaves!
Summer Company Spotlight: Marchmont Window Cleaning
August 13, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Hudson Lightfoot and Marchmont Window Cleaning!
Summer Company Spotlight: Mourning Dove Produce
August 13, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Kate Schillebeeckx and Mourning Dove Produce!
Summer Company Spotlight: Outdoors Unbound
August 13, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Ethan Sullivan and Outdoors Unbound!
Summer Company Spotlight: Midhurst Mini-Cart
August 12, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Anson Reesor and Midhurst Mini-Cart!
Summer Company Spotlight: Bridge the Future
August 12, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Casper Gu and Bridge the Future!
Summer Company Spotlight: Spotless Detailing
August 12, 2026 | The Summer Company program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses. The Small Business Centre team is excited to share our youth founders that are bringing their business ideas to life. Meet Aiden Seney and Spotless Detailing!
June 2026: Invest Barrie Quarterly
July 3, 2026 | In this issue: Barrie takes steps to advance defence investment readiness; Invest Barrie attends CANSEC; New Employment Development CIP supports job-creating development projects in Barrie; Get listed in the Barrie Business Directory through the annual business survey; Barrie in the News; Development Highlights; Featured ICI Properties; Data and Economic Overview; Funding and Opportunities; Upcoming Industry Events and Where to Find Us.
Meet our Small Business Centre's 2026 Summer Companies
June 25, 2026 | We’d like to introduce our 2026 Summer Company cohort of entrepreneurs, a group of motivated students bringing a wide range of business ideas to life this summer!
March 2026: Invest Barrie Quarterly
March 30, 2026 | In this issue: Invest Barrie joins Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS); Georgian College receives $1 million from Ontario Research Fund to expand Ontario’s first Industry 5.0 sandbox; Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub construction underway; Barrie companies showcase mining innovation at PDAC 2026; Sandbox Centre launches inaugural Commercialization Program cohort; New study crowns Barrie as a top city in Canada to live; Barrie ranked #2 on U-Haul’s 2025 Top 25 Growth Cities; Barrie Airshow named one of Ontario’s top 100 festivals and events; Development Highlights; Featured ICI Properties; Data and Economic Overview; Funding and Opportunities; Upcoming Industry Events; and Where to Find Us.
Invest Barrie at EDCO 2026: Learning, Leading and Looking Ahead
February 12, 2026 | This year, the City of Barrie attended the 2026 Economic Developers Council of Ontario Conference to learn and contribute our insights through several speaking opportunities—continuing the commitment to knowledge sharing, partnership building, and advancing innovative economic development practices.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Harrison Cowden
December 17, 2025 | Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this spring. Meet Harrison Cowden!
Culture Pop! Special Edition
December 5, 2025 | In this issue: The 2026 Arts & Culture Investment Program is now open; Call for Adjudicators for the 2026 Arts & Culture Investment Program; and Arts & Culture Investment Program Information Sessions.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Eleanor Brodie-mends
December 2, 2025 | Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this spring. Meet Eleanor Brodie-mends and FWE Media!
Multi Tech Audio Visual: Powering Barrie’s Creative Pulse
December 1, 2025 | In Barrie, creativity doesn’t just live on canvas or stage—it’s built into the sound, light, and immersive experiences that bring our community together. Few companies embody this fusion of culture and technology quite like Multi Tech Audio Visual (MTAV). From intimate community stages to large-scale productions, MTAV has become a cornerstone of Barrie’s creative scene, transforming how we experience art, performance, and connection.
December 2025: Invest Barrie Quarterly
December 1, 2025 | In this issue: Happy Holidays; S&P Global Upgrades City of Barrie’s Credit Rating to ‘AAA’— the Highest Possible Rating; UPS Canada Breaks Ground on New Barrie Facility; Invest Barrie Attends the Battery Show; 2025 Barrie Business Awards Winners Announced; Barrie's Economic Overview; Featured ICI Properties; Where to Find Us; and Community Updates.
International Volunteer Day 2025
December 1, 2025 | Every year on December 5, people around the world—especially those in the not-for-profit and charitable sectors—come together to celebrate International Volunteer Day. This important day shines a light on the impact of volunteer efforts everywhere...
A New Place for Play Opens in Bayfield Mall
November 27, 2025 | The Small Business Centre Team was happy to be in attendance for the grand opening of BeyondPlay KidzTown and Sensory Cove in the Bayfield Mall this past Thursday. With sensory-conscious design and a commitment to accessible play, this new small business works hard to truly welcome every child and ensure everyone can experience the developmental joys of play.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Brandy Mullen
November 24, 2025 | Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking opportunities, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this spring. Meet Brandy Mullen and Believe!
Presenting the 7th Mayor's Innovation Awards Nominees for Municipal Innovation
November 21, 2025 | It is our honour to recognize amazing businesses and leaders within our community through the Mayor’s Innovation Awards. As we approach the ceremony, we would like to introduce the nominees in our final category, Municipal Innovation. This category recognizes the individuals, teams, and departments within the City of Barrie that have gone above and beyond to drive innovation, streamline processes, and deliver more effective and efficient services to our community.
Presenting the 7th Mayor's Innovation Awards Nominees for Youth Innovator
November 20, 2025 | It is our honour to recognize amazing businesses and leaders within our community through the Mayor’s Innovation Awards. As we approach the ceremony, we would like to introduce the youth nominees who are challenging the status quo and showcases some of the incredible learning that comes through entrepreneurship and the Youth Innovator category.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Bill Foutris
November 19, 2025 | Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking opportunities, and have the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this spring. Meet Bill Foutris and Powerhouse Jeeps!
Presenting the 7th Mayor's Innovation Awards Nominees for Pivot Point
November 18, 2025 | It is our honour to recognize amazing businesses and leaders within our community through the Mayor’s Innovation Awards. As we approach the ceremony, we would like to introduce the nominees that have navigated unexpected challenges by discovering and pursuing opportunities for growth with the Pivot Point category.
Presenting the 7th Mayor's Innovation Awards Nominees for Creative Collaboration
November 17, 2025 | It is our honour to recognize amazing businesses and leaders within our community through the Mayor’s Innovation Awards. As we approach the ceremony, we would like to introduce the nominees that have forged an alliance and reached new heights or achievements that they couldn't have reached alone through the Creative Collaboration category.
Presenting the 7th Mayor's Innovation Awards Nominees for Research & Innovation Contribution
November 14, 2025 | It is our honour to recognize amazing businesses and leaders within our community through the Mayor’s Innovation Awards. As we approach the ceremony, we would like to introduce the nominees undertaking research and development initiatives through the Research & Innovation Contribution category.
Culture Pop! November 2025
November 13, 2025 | In this issue: Looking to purchase contemporary art? Don't miss the Off the Hook MacLaren Art Auction!; Mayor's Christmas Card Contest; Call for Local Adjudicator - 2026 Arts & Culture Investment Program; Handmade Holidays at the
Five Points Theatre; Call for Artists for Future Events; Call for Venues that are Available for Events.
Presenting the 7th Mayor's Innovation Awards Nominees for Shift Disturber
November 13, 2025 | It is our honour to recognize amazing businesses and leaders within our community through the Mayor’s Innovation Awards. As we approach the ceremony, we would like to introduce the nominees, starting with fan favourite category, Shift Disturber.
UPS Canada Breaks Ground on New Facility at 90 Salem Road
October 31, 2025 | Invest Barrie is excited to share that on October 29, 2025, the new 103,000 square-foot UPS facility in south Barrie started construction. The new building represents UPS’s ongoing investment in expanding their network to meet growing business and residential demand in one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions.
Culture Days Brings Arts, Culture, and Heritage to the Community
October 27, 2025 | Culture Days is a three-week festival that celebrates arts and culture across Canada. This year, Culture Days took place in Barrie from September 19 to October 12, 2025. Events and activities invited the public to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes through free and diverse artistic and cultural experiences to highlight the importance of arts and culture in our communities.
Barrie Welcomes Toronto Business Development Centre Founders
October 27, 2025 | Have you ever wondered what a full day tour of Barrie looks like for an entrepreneurial founder? Over 20 founders based in the fintech, consulting, Software as a Service (SaaS), med tech, education, agri-tech, and additional sectors had the opportunity to travel from Toronto to explore what Barrie’s business community and ecosystem offers.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Dawson Sewell
October 24, 2025 | Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this spring. Meet Dawson Sewell and Dilbert Ratio Group Inc!
Seeing Science Differently: Reflections from the Ideas to Action Forum
October 22, 2025 | What an educational day at Life Sciences Ontario’s Annual Ideas to Action Forum! Invest Barrie were proud to join this premier gathering for life sciences leaders from industry, academia, and government to shape the future of Ontario’s health innovation ecosystem.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Annamarie Marcello
October 22, 2025 | Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies that completed the program this past June 2025. Meet Annamarie Marcello and PetRoam!
Concept of Movement – Business Expands with Grand Opening Downtown
October 21, 2025 | COM Physio + Performance Wellness, an established wellness clinic in Barrie, just opened its second location in the heart of the city. COM Physio’s expansion signals not just more space for healing and strengthening, but also growing confidence in Barrie’s downtown economy.
Thriving Together: Barrie’s Small Business Community Spotlight
October 15, 2025 | In this first edition of our small business spotlight series, Thriving Together, we’re highlighting three incredible organizations working to uplift entrepreneurs and foster equity and inclusion in Barrie’s growing business landscape: the Barrie Indian Association, UPlift Black, and the Sandbox Centre.
Culture Pop! October 2025
October 14, 2025 | In this issue: Don't miss our Fall Culture Night Out!; 2025 Downtown Mural Celebration; The Creative Barrie Workshop Series Returns with Grant Writing for Artists & Arts Organizations!; The 28th Annual Barrie Film Festival starts this weekend!; Welcoming Exhale to Barrie's Public Art Collection; and Call for Venues that are Available for Events.
Ground Control to Innovation: Invest Barrie Joins Forces with NASA Space Apps Challenge at Lakehead University
October 8, 2025 | Invest Barrie was proud to sponsor the second annual NASA Space Apps Challenge hosted by Lakehead University. Hearing teams talk about how to turn food waste into entertainment and future collectors’ items, to the need to create dashboards on how to track asteroids, it was clear that the energy, collaboration, and creativity on display were nothing short of innovative.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Sabrina Dodgson
October 3, 2025 | Our Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow, or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, valuable training and networking, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grant funding.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this past spring. Meet Sabrina and Hearts and Crafts!
World Tourism Day 2025
September 26, 2025 | Happy World Tourism Day, Barrie! This year’s United Nations theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” aligns with our city’s vision - where tourism is more than leisure; it’s a powerful engine for sustainable economic growth and community development.
Top 5 Reasons to Check-out Culture Days!
September 22, 2025 | From Friday, September 19 through Sunday, October 12, 2025, explore everything Barrie’s arts and culture community has to offer. This year’s programming is inclusive, accessible, free (or pay-what-you-can), hands-on, educational, and community-building. Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture, where millions of people attend thousands of free, hands-on events across Canada.
Culture Pop! September 2025
September 5, 2025 | In this issue: Culture Days is Coming; Doors Open Barrie Invites You Inside; Don't miss the Final Troubadour Festival Concert of the Year, featuring the Culture Crawl; Don't miss our Fall Culture Night Out; Call for Venues that are Available for Events!
40 Years of Craftsmanship with Barrie Trim & Mouldings Inc.
September 4, 2025 | This year marks a major milestone for Barrie Trim & Mouldings Inc. as it celebrates 40 years of proudly serving Barrie and area’s building community. What began as a modest 1,000 sq. ft. retail shop has grown into a state-of-the-art facility and a trusted provider for custom home builders, renovators, and skilled tradespeople seeking quality materials and expert advice. We sat down with company president Lee Whitaker to reflect on their remarkable journey, their impact across the region, and what’s next for this Barrie-based success story.
September 2025: Invest Barrie Quarterly
September 1, 2025 | In this episode: Why Doing Business in Barrie is Better; Barrie's Economic Outlook; Invest Barrie Attends BIO 2025; Praher Plastics is Preparing for Growth; 40 Years of Craftsmanship with Barrie Trim & Mouldings Inc.; 40 Years of Innovation at Busch Systems; SuiteWorks Building Community Through Coworking in Barrie; Featured ICI Properties; Where to Find Us; and Community Updates.
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