If you’ve ever fantasized about moving to cottage country, you need to hear these stories. In every episode of I Left the City, we talk to a talented and skilled professional who moved to Hastings County, Ontario to find a wildly authentic life.
If you’re inspired to make the move and start a business in a place halfway between Toronto and Ottawa with affordable real estate, welcoming neighbours, and four-season natural amenities, visit investinhastings.ca for startup and relocation advice, commercial property listings, and many other helpful resources for business.
I Left the City is an initiative of the Hastings County Economic Development department. It’s hosted and executive produced by Michelle Samson, a former radio broadcaster and economic developer who found her calling when she founded economic development podcasting agency Storied Places Media. As someone who grew up in a small town, moved to the city, then returned, she loves being nosy about where people have lived, and why they chose to build a life and business in Hastings County.
Wildly Successful: Free Business Advice from the Small Business Centre - Episode 46
We're continuing our “Wildly Successful” mini-series with another organization that can help you move your business or start a new one in Hastings County.
The Small Business Centre in Belleville is a free service that helps entrepreneurs at every phase, whether they're just starting out or looking to exit. In this episode, operations manager Brittany Munro and entrepreneurship officer Amy Rushlow explain what it is they offer, why you should reach out to them sooner than you think, and how succession matching might be the easiest way into a local small business.
Check out the Small Business Centre:
Website: smallbusinessctr.com
Email: info@smallbusinessctr.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SmallBusinessCentre
Instagram: instagram.com/smallbusinesscentre
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/small-business-centre-belleville-on
About the I Left the City Podcast
If you’ve ever fantasized about moving to cottage country, you need to hear these stories. In every episode of I Left the City, we talk to a talented and skilled professional who moved to Hastings County, Ontario to find a wildly authentic life.
If you’re inspired to make the move and start a business in a place halfway between Toronto and Ottawa with affordable real estate, welcoming neighbours, and four-season natural amenities, visit investinhastings.ca for startup and relocation advice, commercial property listings, and many other helpful resources for business.
I Left the City is an initiative of the Hastings County Economic Development department. It’s hosted and executive produced by Michelle Samson, a former radio broadcaster and economic developer who found her calling when she founded economic development podcasting agency Storied Places Media. As someone who grew up in a small town, moved to the city, then returned, she loves being nosy about where people have lived, and why they chose to build a life and business in Hastings County.
20 May 2026
Wildly Successful: Bancroft is a Hidden Gem for Entrepreneurs - Episode 45
We're continuing our “Wildly Successful” mini-series with another organization that can help you move your business or start a new one in Hastings County. In this episode, Krystal Campbell, the vice chair of the Bancroft Business Improvement Area, tells us how the BIA supports businesses in downtown Bancroft, and why Bancroft is such a hidden gem for entrepreneurs that she almost didn't want to tell people about it (consider it an I Left the City exclusive). If you're looking to start a business without a clear idea of what it should be, listen to the end for what Krystal sees as gaps in the market.
Check out the Bancroft BIA:
Website: Coming soon!
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverBancroft
Instagram: instagram.com/downtownbancroft
About the I Left the City Podcast
If you’ve ever fantasized about moving to cottage country, you need to hear these stories. In every episode of I Left the City, we talk to a talented and skilled professional who moved to Hastings County, Ontario to find a wildly authentic life.
If you’re inspired to make the move and start a business in a place halfway between Toronto and Ottawa with affordable real estate, welcoming neighbours, and four-season natural amenities, visit investinhastings.ca for startup and relocation advice, commercial property listings, and many other helpful resources for business.
I Left the City is an initiative of the Hastings County Economic Development department. It’s hosted and executive produced by Michelle Samson, a former radio broadcaster and economic developer who found her calling when she founded economic development podcasting agency Storied Places Media. As someone who grew up in a small town, moved to the city, then returned, she loves being nosy about where people have lived, and why they chose to build a life and business in Hastings County.
14 May 2026
Wildly Successful: Moving is Hard but Marmora’s Ambassadors Can Help - Episode 44
The “Wildly Successful” mini-series continues with another organization that can help you move your business or start a new one in Hastings County.
In this episode, we're featuring the Municipality of Marmora and Lake’s Community Ambassadors Program, which matches seasoned locals with newcomers to answer their questions about living, working, and running a business in Marmora. Offering their perspectives are Eric Daoust, a municipal councillor and an entrepreneur, and Anne MacNeill, a member of Marmora and Lake's Economic Development Advisory Committee and one of the program’s ambassadors. They explain how the program works, who the ambassadors are, and why Eric and Anne personally wish this program had existed sooner.
Learn more about Marmora and Lake:
Community Ambassador Program webpage: marmoraandlake.ca/community-ambassador-program
Municipality of Marmora and Lake website: marmoraandlake.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/MarmoraAndLake
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCoqnOpIVVJIZ8EAoYjP0ICg
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/marmoraandlake
About the I Left the City Podcast
If you’ve ever fantasized about moving to cottage country, you need to hear these stories. In every episode of I Left the City, we talk to a talented and skilled professional who moved to Hastings County, Ontario to find a wildly authentic life.
If you’re inspired to make the move and start a business in a place halfway between Toronto and Ottawa with affordable real estate, welcoming neighbours, and four-season natural amenities, visit investinhastings.ca for startup and relocation advice, commercial property listings, and many other helpful resources for business.
I Left the City is an initiative of the Hastings County Economic Development department. It’s hosted and executive produced by Michelle Samson, a former radio broadcaster and economic developer who found her calling when she founded economic development podcasting agency Storied Places Media. As someone who grew up in a small town, moved to the city, then returned, she loves being nosy about where people have lived, and why they chose to build a life and business in Hastings County.
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