Invent Art
“With the financial support from the Kawartha Lakes CFDC, I was able to expand my production capacity, focus on new projects, and grow my business.”
- Dan Kitchen, Invent Art Owner
The Kawartha Lakes CFDC is proud to have contributed essential funds towards the upscaling of Invent Art, an inventive and creative business offering a variety of artistic products and services within Kawartha Lakes.
When Dan wanted to scale up his woodworking shop, he looked to the Kawartha Lakes CFDC for funding and support. The funds he received from the organization allowed him to expand his offerings and grow his business production capacity. He used the funds to incorporate his business, grow his shop space, and purchase a CNC laser machine that allowed him to significantly enhance his services. The expansion of his shop improved his production capacity and safety, separating his welding space from his woodworking space.
It’s the willingness within the KLCFDC to support your business ideas when the banks aren’t willing to take a chance on you. They understand that when you’re starting a business, you actually need money to get started, and they help you find the funds to accelerate and grow your business plan. They look at the potential of your business and work with you to get things started.
- Dan Kitchen, Invent Art Owner
Dan received both KLCFDC loans and funding from the Regional Recovery Relief Fund, distributed by the KLCFDC. This made it possible for him, as a small business owner, to access support when his business fell through the cracks of other support programs. Not only did Dan use his tools and energy towards supporting front-line workers throughout the pandemic, but he also managed to start another small business with the CNC machine, Wandering Tree Co., with Invent Art acting as the manufacturer for the business.
The addition of the new laser machine allowed him to advance his business, develop prototypes quicker, and produce more products for his clients–many of which are makers within Kawartha Lakes. The extra productivity has enabled Dan to dedicate more time to Make Stuff Move, a STEM kit that is now being distributed to school boards and sold at select Home Hardware stores. Not only is he creative and inventive, but he is also a “key innovator” in our local community with multiple projects completed that focus on STEM, innovation, and creativity. The funding received from the KLCFDC has helped Dan purchase key machinery and space to help him on this great business journey.
The KLCFDC Team is proud to work with Dan as he continues to produce beautiful art pieces that can be seen throughout Kawartha Lakes and the GTA. We are excited to have him contribute to the new Launch Kawartha Innovation Hub space, coming in November 2022.