Minto business centre reflects on industry, hosts workshop series
HARRISTON – Since 2011, the LaunchIt Minto business centre has been supporting entrepreneurs and business owners in rural communities across northern Wellington County.
LaunchIt provides local access to workshops, business training, advisors and professional service providers to meet the needs of rural businesses.
“We have been seeing a lot of new businesses, startups and entrepreneurs reaching out to find what supports are available in and around Minto,” LaunchIt business development coordinator Raisa Abrahim told the Community News.
Abrahim, who has been with the centre since last January, stressed the importance of its yearly PitchIt! Minto Business Competition.
“The PitchIt competition is for existing businesses in Minto that are expanding, relocating or new businesses that are looking to get started,” Abrahim said.
In 2025 four businesses participated in the competition and this year seven took part.
“This year we noticed the participants … are service-based businesses, whereas last year it was a mix of service and products,” she added. “People are still willing to start businesses even when things are not always the easiest at this time.”
Abrahim believes the current economy is “unstable” as “a lot of people in the community are not shopping as they would have throughout the year.”
Several “brick and mortar businesses” associated with the centre expressed the need for more people visiting their stores on a regular basis.
“That’s something we can’t control but we always try to promote our local businesses and shop local campaigns,” she said.
Abrahim added how “blessed” the town is to have “unique businesses that bring a lot of character.”
New this year, the centre has started thinking more about its “solopreneurs” and service-based businesses such as local therapists.
The centre hopes to have business owners host networking sessions to build and grow their network with clients and colleagues.
Workshop series
The Construction Cafe Workshop Series, held on the second Monday of each month from 8 to 9:30am, includes free sessions offering practical tools, expert insights and hands-on strategies tailored specifically for downtown businesses.
Each series includes a different theme, such as e-commerce and online sales, financial preparedness, marketing and promotions planning and many more.
Upcoming events include:
- business continuity planning, Oct. 19;
- accessibility through construction, Nov. 9;
- staffing and workforce flexibility, Dec. 14; and
- collaboration and collective promotions, Jan. 11.
“Palmerston is going through a downtown revitalization … and so we knew this would be a challenge for our local businesses,” Abrahim said.
The idea behind the cafe series is to prepare those impacted by next year’s construction disruptions.
“One of the things that happens during construction, besides the roads being dug up and having limited access to your building, is sometimes the power can go or something happens to your water,” she noted.
The workshop received county funding which helped LaunchIt open the event to all businesses in Wellington County. Those interested can participate in the workshops at the Lions CRA Clubhouse at 120 Main St. W. in Palmerston.
For more information visit palmerstonfullsteamahead.ca.
