Durham small-business support is included in a new $49-million Ontario investment in advisory centres, training and mentorship over the next three years.
The province says its funding will strengthen the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centre network. The network includes the Business Advisory Centre Durham, or BACD, based in Whitby and connected with the Region of Durham’s Invest Durham team.
Durham centre offers free advice
BACD provides free one-on-one business advice, workshops, mentoring, business-planning help, marketing support and information about government funding programs. It is one of 54 advisory centres operating across Ontario.
Ontario says the wider network handled more than 182,000 inquiries and delivered almost 40,000 consultations in 2025-26. It supported more than 16,000 businesses and helped create over 16,600 jobs, according to the provincial announcement.
The province is also introducing the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centre name across the network to make the local services easier for entrepreneurs to identify.
Programs cover start-up, growth and succession
Services available through the centres include consultations, training, mentorship and guidance on programs such as Summer Company, Starter Company Plus and Succession Ontario.
Associate Minister of Small Business Nina Tangri said businesses need timely advice and practical support as they navigate economic change. Ontario says small businesses account for about 98 per cent of employer businesses in the province and employ approximately 2.5 million people.
Frequency News reported that a Durham business owner welcomed the investment while describing higher material costs linked to U.S. tariffs. The report said the local company had experienced an increase of about 10 per cent in the cost of imported lumber.
The provincial announcement did not provide a Durham-specific allocation from the $49-million total. Local entrepreneurs seeking Durham small-business support can contact BACD to confirm available services and program eligibility.
