by Sylene Argent
Since October, the Essex Centre BIA, the WindsorEssex Small Business Centre, Libro Credit Union, and the Town of Essex have been working together to hosted the Win this Space Essex contest.
The program came to a conclusion on Friday night as the competition partners hosted a celebratory event at the Essex Railway Station, where Dan DesRosiers, and his business Emerson Supply Co, was announced as the Win this Space Essex winner.
Through the contest, DesRosiers won a grant of up to $1000 a month for one year to put towards the lease of a pre-approved Essex Centre storefront, from the Libro Prosperity Fund, and a $5,000 WindsorEssex Small Business Centre Starter Company Plus Grant.
Emerson Supply Co will provide a one-stop shop for waste reduction essentials. It will feature reusable alternatives to single-use and plastic items throughout the home, as well as natural alternatives for common household items. It will also offer a place for shoppers to refill their own containers with a number of cleaning and personal care products.
DesRosiers, originally of Harrow, also makes a line of simply designed household items made with locally sourced woods and naturally derived materials and finishes.
The local entrepreneur was pleased to be announced the winner, and he cannot wait to set up shop in Essex Centre as he said this business district is the hub of the county. He said he was pleased with the help he received through the contest hosts, can’t wait to become part of the community.
He hopes to open on February 29 in Essex Centre. Emerson Supply Co will move into the facility where Accurate Creations is now located, and Accurate Creations will move into the adjacent unit.
Terri Grondin-Sweet, the Chairperson of the Essex Centre BIA, said one of the highlights of 2019 for the Essex Centre BIA was initiating this contest, where local entrepreneurs were invited to submit business ideas for a chance to win a grant. She added that as the business inventory continues to grow in town, the BIA thought Win this Space Essex would be a great way to continue that positive momentum.
“This was a new way to invigorate and excite our community,” she added.
Grondin-Sweet thanked the Essex Centre BIA’s program partners for their collaboration on the contest.
Shannon Dyck of the WindsorEssex Small Business Centre, said her role in the program was fun. She was able to help the semi-finalists in the program develop their business plans, which could help them get their business started, with all the training the received through the contest, even if they did not win.
Essex’s Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche attended the celebration and said the Win this Space Contest was a great opportunity for the Town of Essex. He thanked the contest hosts for their efforts in hosting the program that put a spotlight on Essex, added a new business to the Essex Centre inventory, and gave entrepreneurs a chance to put their business ideas into action.