Skip to content

Sault establishes small-business incubator

Sault Ste. Marie’s newest small-business incubator will be located at Mill Square, the former St. Marys Paper site. Developed by the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Millworks will be located in the Machine Shop building.
soo_waterfront_cropped
Sault Ste. Marie will open a new small-business incubator this summer.

Sault Ste. Marie’s newest small-business incubator will be located at Mill Square, the former St. Marys Paper site.

Developed by the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Millworks will be located in the Machine Shop building. It will provide space for entrepreneurs to operate their companies and support including coaching, mentoring and marketing assistance.

“Millworks will provide a great opportunity for owners of small firms, new startup companies and prospective entrepreneurs,” said Andrew Ross, the EDC’s manager of enterprise services, in a release.

“Taking advantage of our small business incubator will significantly increase their chances of obtaining long-term success. Millworks will feature the resources and expertise to help businesses reach a higher level of operation in Sault Ste. Marie.”

The incubator’s goal is to help business owners maximize their potential and develop a sustainable, long-term operation in the community. According to the EDC, entrepreneurs who take advantage of incubator services have a success rate of more than 80 per cent, compared to about 33 per cent for non-incubated companies.

The three-year initiative is being funded by the city, which provided $192,000, and FedNor, which provided $252,000.

Renovations are underway at the site, and the EDC is set to take occupancy on July 1. The incubator is scheduled to be fully operational later in the summer.