Local Entrepreneurs.
Real Results.
The best part of our work is seeing businesses succeed. These are the stories of people who launched, grew, and transitioned their businesses with support from North Simcoe Business Centre. Each one reflects the innovation and resilience of our local business community.
Your story could be next. If you're ready to take the next step in your business journey, we’re here to help. Get in touch to start writing your own success story with support from North Simcoe Business Centre.
Megan Cosgrove is a denturist and the most recent owner of Harbour View Denture Clinic.
How the NSBC helped to continue a successful denture clinic
"I was a dental assistant for seven years prior to taking the denturist program at Georgian College. So once Georgian College started offering the program, I was the first group through. Out of the 21 students who started, we graduated with a class of seven women.”
After joining Harbour View, Cosgrove worked under her Georgian College professor, Dawn Campbell, before purchasing the clinic from her in 2024, with the help of the North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation (NSCFDC).
“I had a few mentors and professionals in the business industry pointing me towards them,” Cosgrove said.
Cosgrove said the NSCFDC walked her through the steps of setting up a successful business plan before approving her loan.
“It’s definitely a great resource, because it’s a little less scary than going to the bank can be,” she said. “I was new to the business side of things, so being able to go into a smaller office and talk to the three people that work there was really nice.”
Jeff Cote has been the owner of Feast, a catering company. Located at 188 Yonge St. in Midland.
NSBC support helps businesses like Feast thrive and succeed
Jeff Cote worked in the food industry for 30 years and in the restaurant and catering industry for almost 20 years before he started building his own business.
After struggling to find work in his hometown of Midland, he discovered the self-employment program through the Ontario government, and made the decision to make his own path.
Since 2014, Cote has been the owner of Feast, a catering company. Located at 188 Yonge St. in Midland, Feast offers catering services from private dining, cocktail receptions and corporate events for groups of 12 to 800 people.
“I started off just as a small home-based business like private cheffing and smaller events that I could do on my own,” Cote said.
Cote now owns a one thousand square foot commercial kitchen with a staff of five full-timers and 40 to 50 part-timers.
Cote says the NSBC really helped him get his feet off the ground. He took his first loan with the NSBC to market himself and build clientele, and eventually took a second loan for the commercial kitchen.
Chris Walsh, his wife Taylor, and their daughter. Owner of Hemingway’s, downtown Midland’s own bar and social club.
Local barbershop success with a company who cares
"I've always loved the atmosphere of a barbershop.”
Chris Walsh didn’t start his career as a barber, but found routine and community in the space long before he opened his own shop.
During his time as a bartender, Walsh would go to the barber and get his hair freshened up for the weekend. He called it “fresh cut Fridays.”
After 17 years in the restaurant industry, Walsh decided to “take a swing” at barber work, finding an apprenticeship with a barbershop in 2018.
Now, Walsh is the owner of Hemingway’s, downtown Midland’s own bar and social club. Hemingway’s opened June first of this year, and Walsh describes the shop as a community-oriented gathering place.
“Our goal for when we opened the shop is that we really wanted to be able to have a place where we could help the community and get involved,” he said.
Currently, Hemingway’s sponsors one of Penetanguishene’s hockey teams, and participates in local charities and fundraisers, such as Guys Who Care and the Wiseman.
Walsh has seen success with Hemingway’s. A simple Google search shows a five star rating based on over 50 reviews.
But before Hemingway’s came into fruition, there was the question of funding. During a dinner at a restaurant called Dillon’s, the owner pointed Walsh in the direction of the North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation (NSCFDC).