Kingston Galloway/Orton Park is a priority neighbourhood in the eastern most part of the City of Toronto. The East Scarborough Storefront, along with the City’s Neighbourhood Action Partnership, and the local resident’s group, Resident’s Rising is committed to turning this “priority” neighbourhood into a thriving community as articulated in the powerful vision statement crafted by more than 120 people in 2008:

“East Scarborough is a safe, well educated and prosperous community. The Storefront contributes to making the impossible possible by providing accessible sites for community members of all ages and cultures to find and share solutions they need to live healthy lives, find meaningful work, play and thrive. We are seen as an excellent model for sustainable social innovation and transformation in communities”

An important element in a thriving and prosperous community is its small businesses. The Storefront and its partners are developing a local small Business Incubator as is a poverty reduction tool for small and emerging businesses in the Kingston Galloway/Orton Park priority neighbourhood. By using the collaborative and co-operative approach for which the Storefront is famous, local entrepreneurs will receive critical business supports so often missing in small isolated business ventures.

This exciting new local small business incubator model is being developed over the course of 2009. To date supporters of this phase of the project include:

• The George Cedric Metcalf Foundation
• Pro Bono Law
• Heenan Blaikie LLP
• University of Toronto
• Residents of Kingston Galloway/Orton Park
• YWCA of Toronto
• West Hill Community Services
• Schools Without Borders

The intent of the project is to ensure that local businesses have the information and knowledge to run a successful business as well as supports that can either be brought to the community by enthusiastic and skilled partners, or can be facilitated among local businesses so that they can take advantage of the benefits of working collectively. Specific supports will be identified by local entrepreneurs and made available in accordance with the capacity of the Storefront and its partners. These supports may include:

• Help in formulating and writing a business plan
• Legal advice
• Financial management assistance
• Micro-lending opportunities
• Help in developing marketing strategies
• Facilitation of marketing plans for multiple businesses
• Shared administration

The local small business incubator is designed for businesses operated by a sole proprietor or partnerships. The businesses must be located in the Kingston Galloway/Orton Park community which is bounded by Ellesmere to the north, Manse Road to the east, Scarborough Golf Club Road to the west and the CN rail tracks to the south.