County provides $25,000 for LaunchIt Minto through business retention, expansion fund

by Patrick Raftis
GUELPH – Wellington County’s  Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Local Implementation Fund will provide the Town of Minto with $25,000 in 2019 to help fund LaunchIt Minto.
The county fund provides member municipalities with the opportunity to access funding for the direct execution of BRE activities to enhance the local economy.
Minto’s request for funding was approved at the April 25 Wellington County council meeting.
Economic development director Jana Burns noted in a report the county’s $25,000 will cover 28 per cent of the operations cost of the LaunchIt Minto business incubator located in Harriston.
Opened in 2014, LaunchIt Minto operates with the support of the town, the Minto Chamber of Commerce, Guelph-Wellington Business Centre, Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, Wellington Waterloo Community Futures, Business Development Bank, Innovation Guelph and the county.
The incubator provides local access to training, mentors, networking opportunities and resources to help businesses. The report notes that in 2019, LaunchIt is planning a brand refresh and development of new programming specifically designed to attract youth and “homepreneurs.”
“LaunchIt Minto is a local asset and valuable business resource, acts as an information point in the downtown area and provides a space for meetings and office space,” Burns states in the report.