What Fuels an Entrepreneur in Georgian Bay?
When our dedicated team decided to venture forward and start the GB Accelerator, we were often asked the question “Why South Georgian Bay – what makes this region special?”
One would think that this is a simple question to answer. Situated on the shores of beautiful Georgian Bay with its crystal blue water and abutting the Niagara escarpment with its abundant hiking, biking and ski trails; it is easy to see why the area is so attractive as a place to live. Even so, there are many other communities in Ontario, Canada and in fact across North America, that have similar attributes. The live, work and play mantra is not unique to South Georgian Bay, or SGB as it is more commonly known.
So what draws people here and makes them want to stay to build a life and business? One of our partners in the early days of building the Accelerator commented that there must be something in the water. Certainly entrepreneurship is thriving as Collingwood, one of the communities of SGB, is rated as the #1 Entrepreneurial Community in Ontario according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. The Town of The Blue Mountains is also the second fastest growing municipality in Canada according to the latest census.
But underneath it all there is an energy that drives this growing entrepreneurial spirit. An energy that comes from both the natural environment and also the type of people that are attracted to this region. The entrepreneurs that we have been working with love being here but also want to interact and engage with like-minded individuals. They openly share connections and ideas with other businesses and ultimately promote the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Professionals with a wealth of experience have moved to the area and now want to give back, providing support to the growing business community. These individuals reach out on a regular basis looking to connect with the Accelerator and the businesses in our network. The region is rich in talent, generosity and a sense of community. All these ingredients combine together to make SGB truly unique and provide opportunities for new and growing businesses.
The GB Accelerator is here to help fuel this amazing entrepreneurial region. Maybe there really is something in the water after all.