The Leeds Grenville Small Business Center and the Saint-Laurent-Rideau Immigration Partnership announced their 2021 Bridges for Better Business Awards on Thursday.

The Entrepreneur of the Year went to Theo Graham of Songwood Contracting. Mitchell Beattie of Beattie Films received the Paul D. Boivin Memorial Award.

“Thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to do what we do,” Graham said.

Songwood Contracting in Gananoque was launched by Graham in 2018.

Jeanette Johnston, director of the business center, said Graham applied to the Starter Company Plus program for fall 2018, where he completed a business plan boot camp and business coaching. He has also researched various business coaches and has since been recruited to be a coach and “shares his wisdom with others,” said Johnston.

“He has come full circle,” she said.

The founder of Beattie Films received the Paul D. Boivin award which recognizes the contributions of young entrepreneurs in the community.

The award is presented to an individual under the age of 35 who has started a business within the past five years and who demonstrates excellence in its business practices and growth potential.

The Brockville native is no stranger to the entrepreneurial world as he co-founded two other small businesses. He launched Beattie Film in 2018 and again turned to the center and was accepted into the Starter Company Plus program.

Beattie said: “I hope that as the business continues to grow we can attract more young entrepreneurs to this field because it is a fantastic area to grow a business.”

Marc Gomez Segu, owner of El Rebost de les Mil Illes, won the Leeds Grenville Immigrant Entrepreneur Award 2021, presented by the Saint-Laurent-Rideau Immigration Partnership.

“I am very honored to have been chosen for the Immigrant Entrepreneur Award,” said Gomez Segu.

He opened his Prescott restaurant shortly after arriving in Canada in 2014. He received the award for his contribution to the community, his ambition and his ability to take on challenges, said Melissa Francis, program manager at the partnership.