Sustainable Business Summit Helps Reduce Emissions and Increase Profits

North Grenville – Community Futures Grenville (CF Grenville) and the North Grenville Mayor’s Taskforce for Clean Technology, today welcomed over 70 business owners and community partners to the Sustainable Business Summit, an event focused on sharing practical tools and real-world experience to help businesses green their operations.

The Summit created space for entrepreneurs at all stages to learn from one another, ask questions, and take away ideas they can put into practice right away. Attendees represented a wide range of sectors, reflecting a growing, community-wide interest in building more sustainable businesses. The event showcased strong community and regional leadership, with businesses, municipalities, and partner organizations all contributing to a shared effort to support sustainable economic growth.

“This Summit shows that sustainability and economic growth go hand in hand,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford. “Local businesses are looking for practical ways to reduce emissions while staying competitive, and today was about sharing real solutions that work. When we support innovation at the local level, we’re building a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable economy for North Grenville.”

Speakers delivered grounded, experience-based insights. Keynote speaker Matthew Lynch of Green Economy Canada described hands-on support small businesses can access to identify their most impactful opportunities. Local businesses Canarm, Beking’s Poultry Farm, and Steven’s Creek Décor Centre shared their experiences of implementing clean technology into their operations. Municipal representatives described how they are supporting sustainability, and all participants had an opportunity to share insights and questions.

CF Grenville highlighted its EcoFutures Loan, which provides financing of up to $300,000 to help businesses invest in emissions-reduction projects. With favourable rates and flexible terms, the program supports initiatives such as energy efficiency upgrades, EV adoption, clean energy infrastructure, and process improvements that lower environmental impact.

“This event is about making sustainability practical and accessible,” said CF Grenville Executive Director Katie Nolan. “Business owners want clear, realistic ways to reduce emissions, lower costs, and stay competitive. What we saw today was people learning from each other and leaving with ideas they can use.”

The Sustainable Business Summit recognizes Summit Partner Fig Solar, as well as several other Summit Supporters and Friends.

CF Grenville gratefully acknowledges the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), whose support makes this work possible.