Important to Note:

● Seating preference will be given to business owners.
● Professional advisers are kindly asked to bring along a business owner client in order to attend.
● To avoid any confusion please register with your business email address, or include the name of your business in your registration.
● Also, please whitelist @mentorworks.ca in order to avoid missing any communications regarding this event.

Agenda:
● 5:00-5:30pm: Networking
● 5:30-6:15pm: Institute of Food Processing Technology (IFPT)
● 6:15-7:15pm: Mentor Works
● 7:15-7:30pm: Export Development Canada (EDC)
● 7:30-7:45pm: Q&A Session
● 7:45-8:15pm: Tours of the IFPT Pilot Plant (Optional)

Mentor Works Ltd.: Government Funding: Cash Flow Planning Options to Innovation & Accelerate Growth
Alexandra Barlow, Business Development Executive, Mentor Works Ltd.
Funding resources are available for small businesses from both the provincial and federal levels of government. The challenge is how to find and take advantage of what is out there.

In her presentation, Alex will cover financing trends, the different types of government resources, how to find them, and how to harness these opportunities to fund your business.

You will learn how to take the mystery out of how funding mechanisms work, the on-line application process, eligibility factors, the funding cycle, and more. You will also learn what the experts know about government funding and business support resources and how to keep it simple.

Alex will also conduct a question and answer session after the presentation to provide further insight into the process and share her experiences on how to get started.

Institute of Food Processing Technology (IFPT): Conestoga College
Luis Garcia, Chair, IFPT
IFPT's mission is to develop a highly skilled workforce by providing education and training programs that meet the needs of the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Luis Garcia will outline the facilities of the IFPT and the various levels of training offered at a post-secondary level as well as training opportunities available to current employees in the industry.

Brent Winterton – VP Human Resources & Quality Assurance, Chudleigh’s Ltd.
Hiring trained individuals with previous education and/or work experience in the food and beverage processing sector can lead to increased productivity and retention rates for your business. Brent Winterton from Chudleigh’s Ltd. will speak about his experience with hiring students from and registering employees in training programs at the IFPT.

Speakers:
Luis Garcia – Chair, Craig Richardson Institute of Food Processing Technology, Conestoga College ITAL
Anna Piekarska - Account Manager, Business Development, Export Development Canada (EDC)
Brent Winterton – VP Human Resources & Quality Assurance, Chudleigh’s Ltd
Alex Barlow - Business Development Executive, Mentor Works Ltd.

Prerequisites for most Canadian government funding:
● Incorporated in Canada for at least 2 years
● Financially stable
● Not a retailer/distributor
● Not a start-up
● Company must manufacture or conduct R&D in Canada