What's Coming Up This Month for Simcoe County Businesses
Saturday, April 11, 2026 ยท SimcoeAI ยท Simcoe County, Ontario
A quick scan of what's happening locally this month, including deadlines, events, and news worth knowing if you run a business in Simcoe County.
๐ Summer Company 2026, deadline April 30
Student entrepreneur grant of up to $3,000 to start or grow a small business. Open to students across Barrie, Simcoe County, and Orillia.
๐ Deadline: April 30, 2026 ยท Apply: investbarrie.ca
๐ญ Georgian College wins $1 million for Ontario's first Industry 5.0 sandbox
Announced in March 2026, Georgian College received $1 million from the Ontario Research Fund to launch Ontario's first Industry 5.0 sandbox. That is the human-centred AI approach, technology that works with workers, not instead of them.
๐ Source: Invest Barrie March 2026 Quarterly
๐๏ธ Per Door Grant, Orillia info session April 15
City of Orillia virtual information session on the Per Door Grant Program, including eligibility, application steps, and funding criteria for landlords and renovation businesses.
๐ Date: April 15, 2026, virtual ยท More info at orillia.ca
๐ ๏ธ Made in Simcoe County workshops, April 23, 27, and 29
Local workshops supporting small producers and makers in the region. Worth watching if you're in food, craft, retail, or light manufacturing.
๐ Dates: April 23, 27, and 29, 2026
Election season is starting soon
City of Orillia nominations open May 1 for Mayor, Councillors, and school board trustees. Nominations close August 20. If you're involved in the local business community, this is the time to know who's stepping forward.
Sources and references
- Invest Barrie, including Summer Company and regional business updates
- Georgian College news and program updates
- City of Orillia official notices, grants, and election information
- County of Simcoe business and regional information
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