Launch or Expand

Whether it's help with starting a new business, your industrial development project or pointers for a grant application, the County is happy to support your business!

 Development Applications

The following development applications are overseen by the County of Wellington:

  • County Official Plan changes
  • Local Official Plan approval
  • Subdivisions and Condominiums
  • Exemptions from Part-lot Control
  • Land Severances (consents)

Please contact the County prior to filing a County Development Application.

The following development applications are overseen by the local municipal office:

  • Local Official Plan changes
  • Zoning By-law changes
  • Minor Variances
  • Issuance of building, plumbing and demolition permits
  • Issuance of sign permits
  • Site Plans

Please contact your local Town/Township prior to filing out a local development application.

 Start-up Support

Local Business Resources
Chamber's of Commerce and Business Improvement Area's.

Employer Resources in Wellington County
Find employees or upgrade worker's skills.

BizPaL
BizPaL is your Canadian online source of information on permits and licences.

Business Development Bank of Canada
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a financial institution wholly owned by the government of Canada. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial, investment and consulting services to Canadian small businesses, with a particular focus on the technology and export sectors of the economy.

Canada Business Network : Government Services for Entrepreneurs
Canada Business Network promotes entrepreneurship and innovation, and provides assistance through an organized network of service centres across Canada. There is a centre in each province and territory working with partners in many communities across their region, providing you with numerous service access points.

Canada Revenue Agency
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories.

Connect Legal
Connect Legal is a registered charity that provides free legal services for small businesses.

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
The Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) is a unique not-for-profit consortium of manufacturers, incorporated to facilitate each member's development, both individually and collectively, towards improving their competitiveness as a strong community infrastructure of world-class business. 

FarmLINK
FarmLINK.net is an initiative of FarmStart. It is a farm-matching site that creates opportunities for new farmers. The site links to farms for sale or rent in the area and resources or mentorship for starting a farm, and its free!

Ontario Business Programme Guide
Information about Ontario's economy and how to do business here. Includes economic development opportunities, research funding, tax credits for business and the Ontario Budget.  

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
Here you will find information on Ontario's agri-food industry and rural communities and the services and programmes OMAFRA provides.

Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Growth
Supporting a strong, innovative economy that can provide jobs, opportunities and prosperity for all Ontarians.

Regional Tourism Organization 4
Tourism Region 4 encompasses Huron County, Perth County, Waterloo Region and Wellington County.

Rural Ontario Institute
A catalyst for dialogue, collaboration and action on issues facing rural Ontario and delivers leadership training and development to ensure that rural contributes to a healthy vibrant Ontario. 

ServiceOntario
Fast, friendly and easy access to Ontario government information and services.

Startup Canada

Provide Canadian entrepreneurs with the tools, community, and support they need to build their businesses. Through each programme, early stage entrepreneurs will have access to 1:1 mentorship, networking, workshops with leading industry experts, tools, resources, and more.

Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada provides economic, social and census data.

St. George's Centre ESL
Wellington Centre for Continuing Education

 Expansion Report
Canada Business Ontario
The Canada Business Ontario website provides access to accurate, timely and relevant information on federal business-related programmes, services and regulations. Their website provides detailed information for all stages of your businesses' lifecycle including growth.
 Expansion Support Funding

Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs)

Providing funding and advisory services to area businesses. Economic development support, business consulting, and loans are available to businesses and residents of rural areas of the County of Wellington

Mentor Works
Financing for growth remains a large obstacle for many small businesses. Mentor Works helps companies in Southern Ontario tackle the barriers of financing in order to achieve growth goals and prosper.

Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives - Investing in Business Growth and Productivity (IBGP).
IBGP focuses on established businesses that have the potential to be global players with innovative and unique opportunities to accelerate growth and support job creation. This initiative supports economic growth and job creation by helping businesses to expand their markets and facilities, adopt new technologies and processes to improve productivity, and increase business capacity to participate in global markets and integrate into global value chains.

 Reaching New Markets

AgriMarketing Programme
Government grant that supports international expansion projects undertaken by food and beverage businesses. Through the programme, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can offset a portion of eligible project expenses for trade shows and related international marketing activities.

Business Development Bank of Canada
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) offers financial services to small businesses. These services include term loans, subordinate financing and venture capital.

Canada Business Ontario Exporting to World Markets
The Canada Business Ontario website provides step by step guides to exporting. This guide will provide you with resources to help you learn about foreign markets and make it easier for you to get your products to market.

Canada Small Business Financing Programme
This federal government programme makes it easier for small businesses to finance the purchase or improvement of capital assets for new or expanded operations. Industry Canada administers the programme, but loans are made by banks, credit unions, caisses populaires and other financial institutions.

CanExport
Provides direct financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) registered in Canada to help them develop new export opportunities and markets, especially high-growth emerging markets.

Export Development Canada
This crown corporation provides trade finance and risk management services to Canadian businesses expanding into international markets.

Industrial Research Assistance Programme (IRAP)
Provides innovation and funding services customized to your specific needs. To help you accelerate the growth of your business through innovation and technology.

Ministry of International Trade
Take your business global. Exporting outside of Canada is an excellent way to grow your business. Globalization is opening new international markets and creating new opportunities for large and small Ontario exporters. If you are considering your export options, we can help.

Ontario Exporters Fund (OEF) - OCC Global Growth Fund Programme
The Ontario Exporters Fund has been established to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become export ready and help them gain/increase access to international export markets.

Ontario Food Exports
Through Ontario Food Exports (OFEX), the Ontario government helps food and beverage companies identify and maximize their export opportunities. Our team of Export Marketing Officers provide advice and market information to help you become export ready.

Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science
Supports world-class research, commercialization and innovation taking place across Ontario through a range of programmes and services like the Ontario Research Fund, Innovation Demonstration Fund and Ontario Venture Capital Fund.

Yves Landry Foundation - AIME (Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence) Global initiative
Offering manufacturers in south, central and eastern Ontario up to $50,000 to offset the costs of training expenses related to supporting innovation and achieving a competitive advantage

© 2023 County of Wellington, 74 Woolwich St. Guelph, Ontario N1H 3T9, T 519.837.2600, TF 1.800.663.0750, F 519.837.1909