What's Coming Up This Month for Simcoe County Businesses

Saturday, April 11, 2026 · SimcoeAI · 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.

🎓 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.

📎 Deadline: April 30, 2026 · Apply: investbarrie.ca

🏭 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.

📎 Source: Invest Barrie March 2026 Quarterly

🏗️ 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.

📅 Date: April 15, 2026, virtual · More info at orillia.ca

🛠️ 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.

📅 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

Want help turning local business changes into practical next steps?

We help Ontario businesses figure out where AI, automation, and better workflows actually fit.

Book a free strategy call