Leeds Grenville’s Greatest Entrepreneur is a project of 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation and Community Futures Grenville. We are federally-funded not-for-profit corporations that have been serving our communities in Leeds and Grenville for over 35 years, providing business loans, business coaching, and economic development services. We have been supporting local businesses for decades and Leeds Grenville’s Greatest Entrepreneur is a new initiative to highlight the incredible entrepreneurs of our region. We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

New, existing, or not-yet-started businesses located in the service area of 1000 Islands CDC or Community Futures Grenville are eligible to apply.

This includes:

• Municipality of North Grenville 
• Township of Augusta 
• Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal 
• Town of Prescott 
• City of Brockville  
• Town of Gananoque 
• Township of Leeds & The Thousand Islands 
• Front of Yonge Township 
• Village of Athens 
• Elizabethtown-Kitley Township (southern) 

Contact us to discuss any questions about eligibility.

You must submit your written application by October 17, 2025 at 12 noon.

You can download your written application from this website.

We encourage you to reach out to us before submitting so we can help you create the best application possible.

When your application is ready, email it to info@cfgrenville.ca and ticdc@ticdc.ca with the subject line: “Submission: Leeds Grenville’s Greatest Entrepreneur"

You should include your business concept, market opportunity, and growth potential. Expert coaching will be provided if you wish to access it.

Applications will be accepted until October 17, 2025 at 12 noon. Up to six finalists will be announced by the end of November. The Gala will be held on January 28, 2026; where all finalists will pitch to a panel of judges and two grand prize winners will be selected.

A panel of third-party business experts will be present at the finale to hear the business pitches of the finalists. When all finalists have presented, the panel will deliberate and select winners and runners-up. Winners will be selected based on innovation, feasibility, market potential, and presentation quality. Participants will be provided information in advance on how they will be evaluated and can also access free coaching to prepare their pitch for the finale.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, two grand prize winners will walk away with $10,000 cash and $10,000 worth of business support prizes. Up to four additional finalists will also receive a small cash prize, as well as the visibility and expert coaching that are a part of the competition process