Networking Groups: 1) Grow A Business In Barrie: Top Resources And Networking Groups 2) Barrie Millennials Discover Friendships And New Adventures With A Group Just For Them
1) Grow A Business In Barrie: Top Resources And Networking Groups
Courtesy of Barrie360.com, Marie GagnePublished: Feb 23rd, 2024
As an entrepreneur, knowing where to find help, advice and business resources is important. So much so, access to business services can become an important criteria when deciding where to buy your next house.
If you’re an entrepreneur who’s looking for a community where you and your business can thrive, then Barrie may be just what you’re looking for.
Here are just some of the many business resources you can access in our community.
1. BARRIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Barrie Chamber Of Commerce advocates for and empowers local businesses. Through information and resources, they help keep owners up to date on the changing business landscape. They also provide tools, forums and advice on how to meet future challenges. All this helps business owners:
- Strengthen their business
- Expand their local network
- Connect with the community
- Enhance visibility
The Chamber is also well known for the many different events they run, as well as their programming, networking and local initiatives for business owners. Some of their more popular programs include:
Workshops And Webinars that provide business focused education.
Chamber Chat Networking including breakout sessions and facilitated conversations with other business owners and professionals.
Business After 5, which is an informal, social gathering for collaboration and networking.
The Barrie Chamber has over 900 members and even more community partners. While you must pay to join, all members can take advantage of discounts and saving programs to help boost their business’ bottom line.
2. DOWNTOWN BARRIE BIA
If you plan on operating a business in Downtown Barrie, this is the organization for you.
The Downtown Barrie BIA is Barrie’s local Business Improvement Area. The association is made up of commercial property owners and tenants in the downtown core.
Together, members and BIA advocates help elevate and promote the downtown experience to improve visitation and increase growth of Downtown businesses. This is done by investing in beautification, art, safety and other community improvements.
The BIA also organizes initiatives, events and festivals to attract local and tourist traffic. Some of their past and current events include:
Open Air Dunlop – enjoy the beautiful weather without vehicle traffic every Saturday while you take in the farmers’ market, live music, tours, shopping, food and more.
Lawn Chair Luminata – experience outdoor music, movies and mindfulness throughout the summer at Barrie’s outdoor entertainment venue, Meridian Place.
Noella Festival – in the winter, celebrate the holiday season with light displays, live music, contests and more.
3. SANDBOX CENTRE
The Sandbox Centre is a hub for shared innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship. One of their main goals is to connect people and their ideas to business resources that improve success.
They also help business owners network and build strong relationships by bringing together like-minded individuals.
Through Sandbox’s programs business owners can:
- Improve their personal development
- Get guidance from contributors in the local business community to help you meet goals
- Access business resources
4. SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE BARRIE, SIMCOE COUNTY, ORILLIA
The Small Business Centre is part of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs. Their goal is to empower and support entrepreneurship across Simcoe County. This is done through end to end support from start-up to scaling and growth.
At the Centre, you will find information on:
- Becoming an entrepreneur
- Business plan development
- Training and networking
- How to set up your business
- Referrals to other services and organizations
- Marketing plans
- Hiring Strategies
- And more
The Small Business Centre also has several different mentorship and training programs along with micro-grants to help you grow your business.
5. HENRY BERNICK ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE
Located at Georgian College, the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre is available to students and local entrepreneurs. The Centre helps entrepreneurs with:
- Training
- Patents, copyrights and trademarks
- Networking
- Research and prototype design
- Accessing grants, loans, investments and other funding
- One on one coaching with experienced business owners, entrepreneurs and community members
All of this helps the Centre meet their goal of increasing opportunities for self-employment and bringing more business to the area.
In addition to the above business resource, Henry Bernick also hosts in depth workshops and entrepreneurial experiences. One of their biggest events is their annual summit and training program with hands-on workshops and networking, including events targeted at growing niche sectors, such as AI.
Our community is dedicated to growing business in and around Barrie. With this dedication comes many opportunities for business owners to learn, grow and maximize their potential.
2) Barrie Millennials Discover Friendships And New Adventures With A Group Just For Them
ONE YEAR AFTER ITS INCEPTION, “BARRIE MILLENNIALS MEETUP” CONTINUES TO MAKE CONNECTIONS
MJ BradfordPublished: Feb 22nd, 2024 4:21pm
As you get older, gone are the days when you walk up to a person and ask,” Will you be my friend?”
You could, but their reaction might differ from what you hope for.
One Simcoe County woman has found ways of bringing her peers together and, for the last year, has seen new friendships form.
Last year, Colayna Mailloux began “Barrie Millennials Meetup,” a group for people between the ages of 25 to mid-40s who can get together, discover new local places and hopefully make connections.
The group isn’t about making love connections but providing a safe space to make new friends.
“There are no expectations,” Mailloux says.
“If you don’t meet five new best friends, that’s okay, or you don’t leave with a boyfriend or girlfriend, that’s okay. Meeting new people in any regard is scary, and I wanted to make it a little less scary,” she explains.
Mailloux says the last year has been an unforgettable experience.
Barrie Millennials Meetup courtesy of Colayna Mailloux
“Last year, I was sitting in a café with seven strangers, and now one of them is one of my closest friends. The people I’ve met have helped me learn more about myself.”
In addition to meeting new people, the group has opened their eyes to things to do in Barrie, including its lively music scene.
However, finding new places to host events is a regular challenge.
“I have met a lot of venue owners in the Barrie area who have been super accommodating and awesome to collaborate with,” Mailloux says.
“However, I’m always looking for new venues and businesses of any capacity to work together, whether discount codes, having us out for one of their pre-existing events, or creating a whole new event together.”
Barrie Millennials Meetup courtesy of Colayna Mailloux
In the meantime, she has a lot of ideas for the group, including karaoke, dinner meetups and monthly events.
Mailloux says 75 percent of people who have come out to events return, but there are always new faces showing up and they are a very welcoming group.
“When a new person comes out to an event, other members take them under their wing and are like, ‘Welcome to the millennial community.’”
For more information on Barrie Millennials Meetup, you can check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 6,500 coaching and training sessions in-person and online. Through Ask For Directions Training, her entrepreneurial training program (and parent company Grow Vantage), and as a business coach, she works with start-ups who are new (or who have lost traction) to design, launch and grow their businesses. Along with 20 other expert instructors she teaches strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, as well as practical techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, everything entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, and avoid the costly mistakes they can't even see coming - that lead to delays in growth and getting stuck.
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