Ontario invests $49 million in small business support network

The Ontario government is investing $49 million over the next three years into the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres (OSBAC). This funding represents a record provincial investment aimed at strengthening a province-wide support network for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The initiative includes rebranding the former Small Business Enterprise Centres to the OSBAC name to create a more consistent identity across more than 50 locations. This unified branding is intended to help business owners more easily access services such as one-on-one consultations, mentorship, training, and information regarding government funding and programs like Summer Company and Starter Company Plus.

The investment is part of a broader strategy to protect the provincial economy amidst economic uncertainty and U.S. tariffs. This includes previous measures such as reducing the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent.