International Women’s Day was celebrated locally last evening, Thursday, March 05 at the Trent Port Marina. Trenval and the Small Business Centre’s annual celebration focussed on the achievements of local female entrepreneurs.
The event featured keynote speakers, Jean Parker & Rachel Smith who brought an inspiring message and shared their journey on starting Maple Key Tart Co. Other featured speakers included Jackie Jarrell, Melanie Harrington, Brandy Calvert-Ringelmann, Nicola Robertson and Margaret Hachey.
VIA Rail, Business Development Bank of Canada, Trenval, City of Quinte West, Quinte Economic Development Commission, City of Belleville and Small Business Centre sponsored this year’s event. Trenval and the Small Business Centre has been participating in the event for the last 7 years.
Trenval Business Development Corporation is one of the 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in Ontario funded through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. CFDCs deliver a wide variety of programs and services to support community economic development and small business growth. They employ local staff and are each governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of local residents representing the community.
The Small Business Centre, managed by Trenval on behalf of the City of Belleville is funded provincially by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and provides business counselling, workshops and events to support start up and growth of businesses in Hastings, Prince Edward and Lennox and Addington.
