NAPANEE, ON (May 28, 2012) – Lennox and Addington (L&A) County is establishing a new county-wide business network to bring local entrepreneurs together to share ideas, explore collaborations and potentially grow their businesses.
It is called “Made it in L&A Business Collective” and it will be launched with three inaugural meetings. The first will take place June 18 at noon at the Kaladar Community Centre in Kaladar. The second meeting is June 18 at 7 p.m. at The Royal Coachman Restaurant in Napanee. The third meeting is set for June 19 at 8 a.m. at The Loyalist Grill in Bath.

“This exciting new business networking program is designed to bring entrepreneurs together to inspire each other, make business connections and generate business collaborations and growth,” says Stephen Paul, Lennox and Addington County’s Manager of Economic Development.

All local business owners and entrepreneurs in L&A County are invited to attend one of the three meetings. There is no cost involved to participate. These initial gatherings will feature guest speaker Jon Spenceley, Community Manager for Sprouter.  Sprouter, based in Toronto, has become the web go-to spot for entrepreneurs looking for advice and connections. Their monthly Sprout Up events bring together entrepreneurs and are instrumental in helping business discover new insights, meet new friends and develop actionable ideas. Spenceley’s presentation will be followed by local business presentations and a meet-and-greet session.

“It’s all about entrepreneurs meeting entrepreneurs,” explains Paul. “Typically, business owners are busy working around the clock and they don’t always get a chance to meet their business neighbours in various parts of the county. We want to inspire people and get entrepreneurs working together.”

What is unique about this initiative is that it endeavours to bring business owners spanning the four municipalities of the county – Greater Napanee, Loyalist, Stone Mills and Addington Highlands – together in one place. Paul calls it “a full-county business opportunity.”

“Sometimes, because of the size of L&A County, it’s not always possible for a business owner in Greater Napanee, for instance, to meet with someone in Stone Mills to discuss business issues,” says Paul.  “In a lot of cases, small business owners and entrepreneurs don’t always get credit for what they do and can feel as if they are out there toiling on their own. This is an environment where they can celebrate their successes and talk about their challenges with like-minded people. It’s another way of bringing people together.”

After the initial meeting, Paul anticipates the group will meet on a regular basis at various locations in L&A County throughout the year.  The second networking series of events are planned for September.

Business owners interested in attending any of the events are asked to register by calling 613-354-4883 ext. 271 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lennox and Addington County is situated in south-eastern Ontario, conveniently centered between the cities of Kingston and Belleville. The county covers a sprawling area of 2,841 square kilometres, stretching from Lake Ontario, northward over 130 kilometers to Renfrew County. The northern half of the county forms part of the Canadian Shield. The southern half of the county is essentially rural, with the exception of the Town of Greater Napanee and the suburban community of Amherstview within Loyalist Township. The rural area is dotted with a number of villages and hamlets which function as commercial and tourism centres for the surrounding area. Settled at first by United Empire Loyalists and later by American and European pioneers, Lennox and Addington County is alive with reminders of a rich past: the family names of the earliest pioneers endure, and hundreds of grand Victorian homes and farmsteads still stand as symbols of an era of hard work and bustling growth, their survival and vitality a testament to the vision of the founders. Visit www.lennoxandaddington.com.

-30-

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Paul
Manager, Economic Development
County of Lennox & Addington
613-354-4883 ext. 234
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it