In partnership with the Towns of Georgina and East Gwillimbury, York University has opened a new YSpace location in northern York Region supporting local start-ups and existing businesses during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announced earlier this summer, the new YSpace Georgina Business Incubator/Accelerator Hub located at 1 Market St. in Sutton, Ont., offers computer access, internet, video conferencing solutions, photography tools for e-commerce and online content creation, collaboration spaces, programming support and business community resources. It offers both in-person and virtual learning opportunities to allow for collaboration with other business owners and create connections with mentors.
From left to right: Town of Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk, Minister Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation and Francophone Affairs and York-Simcoe MPP, Town of East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson, York University's Vice-President Research & Innovation Amir Asif, local entrepreneur Amanda Gordon, York-Simcoe MP Scot Davidson, and Economic Development Manager of Georgina Karyn Stone
"By leveraging the success of YSpace's programs and making customized resources available to the Town of Georgina and the Town of East Gwillimbury, York University is facilitating entrepreneurship and business acceleration in northern York Region," says York University's Vice-President Research and Innovation Amir Asif. "We look forward to further strengthening this partnership and witnessing the ideas that participating entrepreneurs bring to life - contributing to the region's knowledge-based economy and creating positive change in their communities and beyond."
"I am extremely excited about our partnership with York University's YSpace and the Town of East Gwillimbury on the expansion of YSpace programming into northern York Region," said Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk. "The YSpace Georgina Business Incubator/Accelerator space will help remove the barriers to entrepreneurship and business acceleration in rural communities. It will provide the tools and support to help advance those existing businesses and to encourage the creation of new ones."
Amanda Gordon, founder of Cloverhill flowers and former YSpace program participant, talks about how critical the program was in launching her small business
"Entrepreneurship and business development are key factors in building complete communities," says East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson. "Through this partnership, our local business communities will have access to the necessary tools and training opportunities that will assist them with creating and advancing their business. I look forward to the future of this partnership and continuing to help local businesses succeed in East Gwillimbury and Georgina."
To find out more, visit yspace.yorku.ca/yspace-northern-york-region.
Watch a video of the event below.
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
