Empowering Growth, One Connection at a Time
Every year, Economic Development Week gives us the chance to shine a spotlight on the work we do behind the scenes at Invest Barrie to foster growth, support businesses, and build a thriving, connected community. For our team, this week is more than just a celebration. It's a reflection of our mission and the meaningful impact we strive to create every day.
At our core, we’re matchmakers. We build the bridges that bring entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers together. Whether you're launching a new business, expanding your operations, or navigating an unexpected challenge, we’re here to make the right introductions, open doors, and help you grow.
But our work goes far beyond information sharing or guidance. We’re embedded in the community, whether that be with our local artists, not-for-profits, large anchor firms, or the tourists partaking in our events. We take the time to understand your business, your goals, your hurdles—and we walk alongside you every step of the way. We’re there when you cut the ribbon at your grand opening. We’re there when you need to reimagine your business model. And we’re there when it’s time to scale, celebrate, and shine.
Our Three Branches of Business Support
Our team is structured around three specialized areas, each focused on different facets of economic development:
1. Business & Tourism Development
This branch champions our region as a destination to visit, invest, and grow. We work with existing businesses to promote expansion, attract new investment, and elevate our local tourism offerings. From marketing campaigns to investment attraction initiatives, this team ensures our business and tourism landscape remains dynamic and resilient. A few key projects our Business & Tourism Development branch has been working on in the last year include:
- Automotive Supply Chain Map
- Employment Development Concierge Program
- Sport Tourism Strategy
- Wayfinding Systems Improvement Project
- 2024 Business and Employer Data Survey and Report
2. Small Business, Entrepreneurship & Creative Sector
Entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of our community and this branch is all about nurturing their potential. We support startups, small businesses, and creatives with tailored resources, workshops, mentorship, grant programming, and more. This branch is made up of two powerhouse teams: the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County & Orillia and Creative Barrie. Whether you're designing your first product or launching your next venture, the Small Business Centre is here to empower your journey of entrepreneurship. Our Creative Barrie team promotes culture as the heartbeat of Barrie. Creative Barrie champions cultural vitality, public art, and creative expression as central to the city’s identity, livability, and future. Some noticeable stats from the last year for this branch include:
- 375 one-on-one consultations through the Small Business Centre
- 51 online training & educational opportunities delivered to local entrepreneurs
- $171,000 in grant funding distributed across two Starter Company Plus cohorts and one Summer Company cohort
- 57,360 participants in arts and culture workshops, programs, and events
- 55 events and activities hosted during the three-week Culture Days festival; 32 sites activated; 44 artists engaged; 18 businesses engaged; 6 programming partners
- 3 projects in partnership with the Downtown Barrie BIA – Brightening Barriers, Seeds to Sow, Culture Days
- $230,418 distributed to 14 different organizations through the Arts & Culture Investment Program
3. Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships & Innovation
This team focuses on the bigger picture—developing strategic partnerships, driving innovation, and planning for the future. Through collaborative initiatives, data-informed strategies, and community engagement, we ensure our economic ecosystem is forward-thinking and future ready. We support entrepreneurs and startups with access to incubators, funding programs, and networks that turn bold ideas into thriving enterprises. Four key, partnered events that our department either hosted or sponsored include:
- 6th Mayor’s Innovation Awards with over 60 nominations
- Georgian College’s Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Symposium, along with the Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association (APMA) Open Member Event where Project Arrow was on display.
- Lakehead University’s NASA International Space Apps Challenge, bringing the public and students together for 48 hours of tackling some of Earth’s most pressing challenges
- Manufacturing Innovation Summit ‘Behind the Factory Doors’ where attendees were able to tour and attend breakout sessions in three of Barrie’s top manufacturing facilities
Why It Matters
Economic development isn't just about the numbers and stats—it’s about people. It’s about helping a new café find the perfect location, supporting a tech company through an exciting expansion, or guiding an artist through the steps to turn passion into livelihood. Each connection we make contributes to a shared goal: a vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous economy for everyone.
This Economic Development Week, we invite you to connect with us, learn more about what we do, and explore how we can support your goals. Your success is our success—this week and every week.