Summer Company Program inspires youth to pursue business opportunities
Article content
Renfrew County is looking for the next great entrepreneur! Applications are now available for the Summer Company Program, a youth entrepreneurship initiative that provides young people with the opportunity to create their own summer job.
The Summer Company Program is funded by the government of Ontario and is available to students between the ages of 15 and 29 and provides them with up to $1,500 to establish their own business. Additionally, upon successful completion of the program, they can receive another award of up to $1,500. The program is administered by Enterprise Renfrew County and business consultant Colleen Sadler says it offers a wonderful incentive to young people who are interested in being entrepreneurial.
“We know that small business makes up the greatest percentage of new jobs that are being created in Renfrew County and the Summer Company Program helps participants gain real life work experience in business that is meaningful for youth that have entrepreneurial aspirations. It gives them their first exposure to running a business and we have had many success stories in recent years as program participants have gone on to post-secondary education with the intention of eventually starting their own business, or have grown their summer company business into a full time career,” says Sadler.
By participating in the program, participants will receive business training, mentoring and assistance from local community leaders that will support them in the day to day operation of their enterprise. Sadler calls it, “grassroots job creation, as these young minds are being nurtured and encouraged to pursue their dreams of establishing their own business.”
The program has been available in Renfrew County for the past 13 years, and helped seven students last year with starting up a business. Applications to the Summer Company Program are due by May 17. Summer Company is a highly competitive program and there are limited spaces available. More information on past projects that have been funded through the program is available at www.enterpriserenfrewcounty.com and more information on the program can be found at www.ontario.ca/summercompany.