The Ontario Works Self-Employment Development Program (OWSED) helps people receiving social assistance start their own businesses.  Participants create a comprehensive business plan and receive on-going business advisory support for a period of one year as they implement their business plans. This program is sponsored by the Province of Ontario in partnership with  Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS).

The Business Inc. Program is offered at various Toronto Public Library locations and helps new and early-stage entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses.

BIZ Futures is a skills development and business support program designed specifically for persons with disabilities who are starting their own businesses. It combines business skills development workshops with one-on-one advisory support to help participants develop their business plans and launch their business idea. BIZ Futures is sponsored by Ontario Disability Supports Program – Employment Supports, ODSP-ES.

Explore Skilled Trades is a partnership with the Government of Ontario that provides high-quality, hands-on and in-classroom training programs

– in collaboration with skilled trades employers

– and gives people the experience they need to transition to new industries. Financial and other support is provided to students to increase the likelihood of success. Once students complete their program, TBDC leverages our business networks to connect them with potential employers.

The Canadian Start-up Visa powers the Ontario Soft Landing Program. As an organization designated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, we help innovative global start-ups expand into the North American market with Ontario as their home base. We connect our international founders with industry hubs across the province through our Program partner, the Ontario Centre of Innovation.

The Land and Expand strategy is a relatively well-known and productive path for companies looking to reach international markets. It helps executives of international companies receive a letter of support for a work permit and gives them access to the office and resources of the TBDC Entrepreneurial Network.

BHive is a start-up incubator program solely focused on the Canadian Government’s Start-Up Visa Program. TBDC is working hard to strengthen this collaboration and partnership with the City of Brampton and others in Ontario’s start-up ecosystem. Our goal is to make Brampton’s thriving Innovation District an attractive place for international founders to launch, grow and scale their start-up in Canada.