By Bob Peters

choosecornwall.ca – There will soon be a new spot for entrepreneurs in Cornwall to collaborate with the launch of CREATE, a new business services hub that will bring together existing agencies and new services under one roof.

CREATE is the new name of the former Cornwall Innovation Centre, and while the name may have changed, the mission remains the same – to help business owners grow their business.

“We have explored the type and level of support services available to entrepreneurs in other communities, and we have picked the best elements to create a cohesive supportive environment where ideas can flourish,” says Eric Bergeron, Executive Director of CREATE.

CREATE will be located in the Cornwall Cotton Mill District in 7,500 square feet of renovated space overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Renovations will be complete by March 2020.

The Cornwall Innovation Centre was launched in April 2017, offering tech oriented entrepreneurs an opportunity to turn their ideas into business success. Today, the Centre is working with 15 different businesses, providing business advice and connecting them with mentors and investors.

The new vision of CREATE seeks to make the Centre sustainable by offering a number of services that can not only help entrepreneurs but also generate revenue to fund other programs. This includes the development of co-working space for business owners in need of a desk or office. The RBC has stepped in to support this vision and the co-working space will be branded as the RBC Connect Centre.

“Co-working space is growing in popularity as it offers an affordable solution to space requirements but has the added benefit of bringing entrepreneurs together in one place where they can share ideas and build off each other’s energy,” says Mr. Bergeron.

CREATE will also include a makerspace, with over $35,000 in technology that entrepreneurs can use, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, specialized software, photography and audio equipment.

CREATE is an acronym that stands for the Cornwall Regional Entrpreneurs Artists & Technologists Exchange. That spirit of collaboration has drawn the interest of a number of organizations that will support CREATE, including Launch Lab, BDC and two angel investor networks.  Two local organizations, Cornwall & Counties Community Futures Development Corporation and the Eastern Ontario Training Board, will be relocating to join CREATE at the Cotton Mill.

More information on the launch of CREATE will become available over the next several weeks as a number of other plans are finalized.