Fiera Foods and Food Starter are proud to announce the launch of the Women in Food Rise Up Fund.
Fiera Foods is sponsoring the new start up growth fund to provide Food Starter’s women-led enterprises with access to a grant of $5,000 to quickly start and scale food businesses. The fund aims to recognize that women entrepreneurs play a leading role in innovating Ontario’s food industry.
“We see day in and day out through our interactions with partners, employees and clients, that women can lead and excel in our industry,” said Boris Serebryany, President and CEO of Fiera Foods Company.
“The concerning reality is that women are still underrepresented in food manufacturing. We’re proud to work toward a solution by partnering with Food Starter to remove barriers, creating a more open and inclusive environment for female entrepreneurs and innovators in Ontario’s food industry.”
Grant recipients will receive a cheque for $3,500 plus $1,500 in Food Starter production hours or accelerator fee credits. The grant will be used for purchasing new equipment, supplies or ingredients required to fill orders, production labour and marketing expenses.
To qualify, ventures must be 51% women-owned and women-led, revenue-positive, an active hourly or accelerator 2018 Food Starter client and a registered for profit, social enterprise. A review team consisting of Food Starter and Fiera Foods representatives will review applications, which are available online and due on August 13, 2018.
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