Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation

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Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation Grow your business in Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford, or Zorra Townships. We’re here to help

Confidential, no-cost business support services.

Got a product crossing provincial or international borders? Bioenterprise Canada wants to hear from you.Bioenterprise is...
10/23/2026

Got a product crossing provincial or international borders? Bioenterprise Canada wants to hear from you.

Bioenterprise is exploring how to better support Ontario's agri-food, agri-tech, and food-tech companies as they expand into new Canadian and international markets beyond the U.S. They're gathering input on where businesses are in that journey, the barriers they're running into, and what kind of support would actually move the needle.

Rural Oxford is home to a growing base of agri-food and agri-tech innovators across Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford, and Zorra, and this is a direct line to shape the programming built to support that growth.

If you're an innovator in this space, share your perspective. If you're not, pass this along to someone in your network who is.

Complete the survey: https://agritechcentre.wufoo.com/forms/zh3w7ic0oihvt5/

Opportunity in South-West Oxford! This unique commercial/residential investment property on 1.25 acres in Woodstock offe...
10/22/2026

Opportunity in South-West Oxford! This unique commercial/residential investment property on 1.25 acres in Woodstock offers two income streams in one package.

The commercial component is a vacant automotive sales/service facility with office, 3-bay garage, and a two-bedroom apartment, a building adaptable to many uses, with good frontage on Beachville Road for vehicle display or parking. The residential component is a long-standing 11-unit trailer park, fully tenanted, with land leases providing consistent monthly income.

A genuine opportunity for a business owner-operator or an investor looking for diversified, steady income.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/30088383/585009-beachville-road-south-west-oxford-rural-south-west-oxford

Long before Katie Prouse ever scooped a cone in Mount Elgin, another family member already had.Irv's Ice Cream Shop take...
10/21/2026

Long before Katie Prouse ever scooped a cone in Mount Elgin, another family member already had.

Irv's Ice Cream Shop takes its name from Irvin Prouse, the great-grandfather of Katie's husband, Matt, who once sold Silverwood ice cream at this exact spot. Opening in June 2025 was a chance to revive that family legacy and to create part-time jobs for local young people, including the couple's own sons, in a village with few options for youth employment.

The shop has become something closer to an experience than a typical ice cream stand: a community hub where local businesses sell their wares, milkshakes are made with milk from New Galma Dairy, and a height-measuring photo board turns the line-up into part of the fun. Katie's advice is to get to know the businesses around you, collaborate, and shop locally. Next up: stretching the season, because ice cream isn't just a summer thing.

Read Katie's full story
https://ruraloxford.ca/irvs-ice-cream-shop-proving-it-takes-a-village-in-mount-elgin/

Opportunity in Zorra! This rare 3.91-acre Highway Commercial zoned vacant land in Thamesford has endless potential, with...
10/20/2026

Opportunity in Zorra! This rare 3.91-acre Highway Commercial zoned vacant land in Thamesford has endless potential, with site plan approval already in place for a 33,000 sq. ft. retail plaza, gas station, free standing car wash, and drive-through.

Develop as per the existing site plan or amend it to suit your own vision. The property is serviced with municipal sanitary and sewers, sits on a main busy highway for excellent exposure, and is a corner property offering multiple entrances.

With significant residential development planned on the west side and the area undergoing strong population growth, this is a genuine opportunity for developers and investors looking ahead.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29757644/682810-road-road-zorra-thamesford

Almost every account of when Quehl's Restaurant & Catering began comes with an asterisk, and Cindy Larsen has finally so...
10/19/2026

Almost every account of when Quehl's Restaurant & Catering began comes with an asterisk, and Cindy Larsen has finally sorted out why.

A recent deep dive into the building's history revealed that the original restaurant opened in 1931 next door before moving into its current Tavistock home in 1936, a space that had been a car and implement dealership. Cindy and her husband Brian took ownership in 1996. What began as a "U" shaped lunch counter is now a 250-seat family restaurant with a gift shop, catering, and a growing focus on takeout and delivery.

Ask Cindy what she's proudest of and she points to the history, and to buying local, supporting local, and hiring people who live in the area. Succession is already underway with the Larsens' eldest daughter set to take over, and a second daughter, a dairy farmer, supplying Angus beef.

Read Cindy's full story
https://ruraloxford.ca/quehls-restaurant-catering-keeping-nearly-a-century-of-tavistock-history-on-the-menu/

Lavender has a way of marking time.For Donna and Chris Schurman of Deep Purple Lavender Farm in Embro, it started with i...
10/16/2026

Lavender has a way of marking time.

For Donna and Chris Schurman of Deep Purple Lavender Farm in Embro, it started with inherited family land and a small plot at the bottom of the field. After testing the soil, the choice came down to bamboo or lavender. They chose lavender, planting about 300 plants to start and adding 3,000 more once the first crop did so well. It wasn't all smooth: 800 finicky French lavender plants that needed covering taught them a lesson the hard way.

What began as a you-pick flower farm has bloomed into a genuine agri-tourism draw, with visitors from as far as Bethlehem and the Yukon signing the guest book. Donna's advice for anyone starting out is to take a chance, but don't quit your day job right away. Next up is steady over sprawling, with opening day next summer on June 29, 2027.

Read Donna's full story
https://ruraloxford.ca/deep-purple-lavender-farm-cultivating-community-in-embro/

Opportunity in Norwich! This well-established, turnkey convenience store on Church Street in Burgessville comes with a s...
10/15/2026

Opportunity in Norwich! This well-established, turnkey convenience store on Church Street in Burgessville comes with a spacious attached 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom residence, offering the perfect balance of business ownership and comfortable family living.

The long-standing Village Market has proudly served the community for decades, known for quality convenience products, fresh prepared foods, catering services, and outstanding customer loyalty. Thoughtfully upgraded with a modern POS system, updated fixtures, professional online presence, and a backup generator, the business is well positioned for continued success, with additional growth opportunities including alcohol and lottery sales (subject to approvals).

Ideally situated on Highway 59, a key route connecting the Highway 401 corridor, this is a genuine turnkey opportunity for the right owner-operator.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/30166687/2-church-street-norwich-burgessville

Jacco Schep didn't grow up dreaming of running a bakery. He grew up on the production line, mostly to keep him out of tr...
10/13/2026

Jacco Schep didn't grow up dreaming of running a bakery. He grew up on the production line, mostly to keep him out of trouble.

Founded by his father, Arie, in 1984, Schep's started by importing and selling stroopwafels made in Europe. Today the family does one thing and does it well. Production has grown from a few thousand waffles an hour to more than 100,000, with over a billion cookies made in total, and the Double Dutch brand now exports to South Korea, Japan, Europe, and South America.

Ask Jacco what he's proudest of, though, and it isn't the numbers. It's the team. As the business outgrew Norwich, the family kept it rooted in Rural Oxford by adding a 200,000-square-foot facility in Tillsonburg, and the third generation is already working in the company. "It's the community, it's the family, the generational business," he says.

Read Jacco's full story
https://ruraloxford.ca/scheps-bakeries-growing-a-family-stroopwafel-legacy-across-norwich-and-tillsonburg/

Bridges to Better Business 2026: Networking with Purpose brings together business owners, community organizations, and i...
10/12/2026

Bridges to Better Business 2026: Networking with Purpose brings together business owners, community organizations, and industry partners from across Oxford County for an evening of trivia and genuine connection.

Whether you're running a business in Zorra, Norwich, South-West Oxford, East Zorra-Tavistock, or Blandford-Blenheim, this is a chance to meet the people and organizations supporting business growth across the whole county.

Thursday, October 22, 2026
6:30-9:00 p.m.
South Gate Centre, 191 Old Wellington St. S, Woodstock, ON
Free admission

Hosted by Small Business Centre Oxford and the Woodstock District Chamber of Commerce. See you there!

🎟️ Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/networking-with-purpose-trivia-night-tickets-2002159659438?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve so many amazing people in business across Rural Oxford County. We hope you’...
10/12/2026

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve so many amazing people in business across Rural Oxford County. We hope you’re enjoying a Happy Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

We will be back in the office tomorrow.

Ronda & Crystal

Address

Ingersoll, ON
N5C3J6

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12262892437

Website

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