The Small Business Centre is pleased to have supported seven Summer Company participants in successfully completing the program in what is a very short summer break from school. The Summer Company program is designed to support student youth as they explore that entrepreneurship is a viable means as a long term career goal. The program is funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade as part of their commitment to raise awareness about the importance of entrepreneurship.
Each Summer Company participant is paired with a local mentor who has relevant experience and expertise to provide guidance and support to the student. In addition to hands-on coaching, participants receive a business start-up award of $3,000 upon successful completion of the program. Any profits generated through-out their summer operations are an added value from this experience.
“Some of the students have mentioned that without the grant they likely would never have entertained the idea of starting their own businesses” says, Luc Fournier, Program Coordinator of the Small Business Centre. “One of the main goals of this program is not just about the money, but to introduce to the students what it takes to get a business started. We want to provide them with the supported experience. The grant helps take a large stressor off the table.”
The Summer Company program is available to students in the Small Business Catchment areas. So will be the upcoming Starter Plus grant program. SBC is a part of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs and provides free start-up and business expansion counselling services to any person, in either of the grant programs or not, seeking support on their business start-up or expansion.
“The Summer Company program will be running again next year.”, says Fournier. “But students, or anyone else considering the idea of starting a business doesn’t have to wait for the programs to receive business support from our office.”
The Small Business Centre is managed by Trenval Business Development Corporation on behalf of the City of Belleville and is located at the Quinte Business Development Centre on Wallbridge-Loyalist Road, Belleville.
For more details about Summer Company please visit www.smallbusinessctr.com and follow on Facebook @smallbusinesscentre for frequent updates within the business community.
For further information:
Luc Fournier, Program Coordinator, Small Business Centre
613-961-0590 x420 luc@smallbusinessctr.com
