From Grassroots to Regional Growth
Founded in 1987 during a time of high unemployment in Canada, Trenval Business Development Corporation was born out of a simple yet powerful mission: to stimulate local economic growth by providing small businesses with access to capital, counselling, and community development support.
What began in a small Stewart Street office in Trenton has grown into a cornerstone of entrepreneurial support for the Bay of Quinte region.
Early leaders such as Wilf Wilkinson, Ted Parker, and Jack Gibbons envisioned Trenval as more than a lender: they saw it as a partner in community progress. By the mid-1990s, Trenval expanded its impact through the launch of the Quinte Economic Development Commission (QEDC), helping drive retention and attraction strategies for advanced manufacturing.
A Legacy of Leadership
Trenval's success has always been shaped by the people at its helm. The hiring of Amber Darling in 1994 set the stage for decades of mentorship and grassroots growth. Her steady leadership, paired with long-term collaboration with figures like Chris King at QEDC, helped solidify Trenval's reputation as a trusted partner for entrepreneurs and economic developers across the region.
By 2000, leaders such as Gerrit DeBruyn, David Valcamp, Ted Reid, and Bruce Davis were instrumental in moving Trenval to Loyalist College, creating the foundation for today's Bay of Quinte Business Centre: a hub where organizations including BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada), (QEDC), Small Business Centre (SBC) and IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program) now collaborate under one roof. This ecosystem remains a unique strength, offering entrepreneurs 360-degree support in a single location.
Supporting Entrepreneurs at Every Stage
At its core, Trenval has always been about people with ideas. Through its Community Futures mandate, Trenval provides loans of up to $300,000 to businesses that may not qualify for traditional financing. Over the years, its programs have supported thousands of jobs and helped entrepreneurs: from start-ups to established enterprises: build sustainable futures in the Bay of Quinte.
Trenval has also responded when the community needed it most. During the Belleville floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, Trenval offered emergency loans and hands-on support, even going door to door to check in with local businesses.
These moments underscore Trenval's role not just as a financial backer, but as a partner walking alongside entrepreneurs in good times and bad.
The Small Business Centre Advantage
A significant milestone was reached in 2012 when Trenval brought the Small Business Centre (SBC) under its umbrella to deliver its programs. This allowed for more streamlined collaboration, alignment of services, and clearer fiscal responsibilities, resulting in the removal of service duplication.
Today, the SBC provides training, coaching, and workshops across a catchment area that stretches from Bancroft to Prince Edward County.
This integration has made Trenval one of only two Community Futures organizations in Ontario to deliver both federal and provincial small business support programs under one roof.
The results have been significant. By leveraging multi-tiered governments to provide community services, Trenval's delivery has been consistent and rooted in collaboration, allowing for further opportunities and success for local entrepreneurs. Whether through one-on-one consultations, start-up workshops, or ongoing mentorship, the SBC has become a first stop for individuals turning their ideas into reality.
Rooted in Partnership
Partnership has always been central to Trenval's model. With municipal support from both the City of Belleville and the City of Quinte West, as well as collaborations with QEDC, Loyalist College, and federal and provincial partners, Trenval is deeply woven into the fabric of community development.
As current Executive Director Graham Copestake describes it, Trenval is more than a lender.
"We are a community conduit," he says. "We are an integrated ecosystem of support for entrepreneurs at any stage, experiencing any barrier. We have a solution for you."
That impact extends well beyond individual businesses. Over the years, Trenval has invested directly in the well-being of the Bay of Quinte through local initiative grants and community project funding. This community investment has helped enhance the quality of life and advance the region's economic outlook.
One example is Gift from the Heart, a non-profit offering free dental care to those who would otherwise go without. With Trenval's backing, the organization expanded its reach and strengthened its ability to serve vulnerable residents, reflecting Trenval's belief that strong communities and strong businesses grow together.
Looking Ahead
While proud of its history, Trenval is equally focused on the future. Under Copestake's leadership, Trenval is working to strengthen brand awareness and broaden its role as a hub of economic development in the Bay of Quinte. This includes growing collaboration with municipal partners, enhancing public awareness of programs, and positioning the Bay of Quinte Business Centre as the go-to destination for entrepreneurs.
The organization's ongoing vision is ambitious yet rooted in its legacy: to remain a one-stop shop for business success, community growth, and regional prosperity.
A Legacy Linked to People
As Trenval celebrates nearly four decades of service, it also honours those who built its foundation: people like Amber Darling, whose 30-year career shaped the region's small business landscape. Her story has been preserved in a dedicated Legacy article, which readers can explore here for deeper insight into her remarkable journey.
Trenval's legacy is measured not just in loans and programs, but in the thousands of lives and businesses it has touched. From the early entrepreneurs who first walked through its doors to the next generation of innovators, Trenval continues to carry forward a simple but powerful promise: to walk beside those with a dream, and to help make that dream a reality.
