FRONTLINES
EPICentre Launches Program To Help Those Affected By COVID-19 T he University of Windsor EPICentre in collaboration with WEtech Alliance and the WindsorEssex Small Business Centre, officially launched the EPIC “Nimble Program” in late May. Funded by FedDev Ontario under the “Community Economic Development and Diversification” stream program and also funded by the Lucas Imagine Fund, the EPIC Nimble Program is open to any existing for-profit business in the Windsor Essex Region currently facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program supports businesses looking to adopt technology to either create new revenue streams or to pivot to a new business model in order to achieve sustainability and stay competitive in the fast-changing marketplace. “We were overwhelmed with the response to this program,” states Wen Teoh, EPICentre Director. “We received over 50 applications from local, small businesses looking to pivot their business model in these uncertain times. We had the incredibly difficult task of narrowing it down to seven applicants who will move on to complete this program.” The EPIC Nimble Program invited founders of small businesses, in
Sue Brunet, Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist and owner of Ergonow Inc., is photographed in her new showroom, which opened in mid-June at 3033 Marentette Avenue in Windsor. The company has been operating for the past six years and is one of seven businesses benefiting from the EPICentre program. Photo courtesy of Ergonow Inc.
8
operation for a minimum of two years, to propose an innovative idea to help their businesses achieve sustainability or to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace by adopting new technology. In turn, successful applicants receive program benefits valued at over $6,000 and guidance from community partners. “RISE Windsor-Essex is excited to provide support to the EPIC Nimble program as it directly relates to our mission of helping to increase the number of female-led businesses in our region,” says Nicole Anderson, Program Director for the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy at the WindsorEssex Small Business Centre “With barriers created due to COVID-19, this program is perfect to ensure that local entrepreneurs pivot using technology to remain sustainable during and after the pandemic. We are excited to work directly with the program’s female entrepreneurs and provide them access to our regional resources through our network.” In addition to access to programs and services through community partners, successful participants of the EPIC Nimble Program will receive up to $4,000 in grant funding that must be used towards the proposed project including tech development, marketing, and legal costs. “WEtech Alliance is looking forward to working alongside these local businesses to support them along their digital transformation journey,” comments Yvonne Pilon, President, and CEO of WEtech Alliance. “As we enter the COVID-19 recovery phase, digital transformation will be key to helping businesses survive and emerge in a better, stronger position.” Paul Brereton, EPICentre Program Lead, heading up the Nimble Program adds, “The response to this program has been absolutely phenomenal. We received applications from 18 different industries, geographically covering every corner of Windsor Essex. The project proposals totaled over $166,000, showing a very real need for these innovative pivots. We have the opportunity to make a lasting difference in how businesses in our community not only survive, but strive.” Seven applicants from the Windsor Essex region have been selected to join the program and have until November 30, 2020 to complete their proposed project. B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • M A Y / J U N E 2 0 2 0
Another Nimble Program participant, Riverside Pie Café, is a made from scratch micro-bakery focusing on both sweet/savoury pies and pastries, including tarts, cookies, scones and squares. They also offer a light takeout lunch menu and for the summer months, they craft paleta style ice pops (made from fresh fruit and organic cane sugar such as the raspberry hibiscus pictured), cookie ice cream sandwiches and scoop Kawartha Dairy ice cream. The Café is set to re-open early July. Photo courtesy of Olivia Ryan.
The first EPIC Nimble Cohort includes . . . • GreenerBins Composting Co., Dane Fader, GreenerBinsCompost.com • The Grove Hotel, Jennifer Flynn, 12 Main Street East, Kingsville, MyGroveHotel.com • Efficient Operations Inc., Chris Courey, 12237 Riverside Drive East, Windsor, DansNauticalShop.com • Riverside Pie Café, Olivia Ryan, 5560 Wyandotte Street East, Windsor, RiversidePieCafe.com • Ergonow Inc., Sue Brunet, 3033 Marentette Avenue, Windsor, Ergonow.com • Yoga with Lora, Lora Colautti, 4165 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor, YogaWithLora.ca • Windsor Creative, Devon Pastorius, Aomktg.com For more information on the EPIC Nimble program, please go online to the page: EpicentreUwindsor.ca/epicnimble-program.
