Summer Company helps full-time students who are 15 to 29 years of age and returning to school in the fall run their own summer businesses. It offers opportunities to enterprising students looking for a challenging summer entrepreneurial experience and provides a great way for students to take charge of their future.

Students, all you need is a great idea, a little initiative and the desire to be your own boss. Your business idea may involve setting up a recreational day camp, an organic vegetable store, a clothing design business or capitalizing on your favorite hobby. Summer Company provides hands-on business training and mentoring, plus awards of up to $3,000 to help you get started.

For eligibility details contact the Leeds and Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre.

Students who are selected receive:

An award of up to $1,500 in May/June to help with business start-up costs and a $1,500 award in September/October on program completion.

Summer Company awarded opportunities to students whose business ventures ranged from landscaping to a traveling tack shop. At the end of the summer, many of the students who took part in the program said that the entrepreneurial skills they developed were more valuable to them than the money they earned.

Summer Company is offered through the Government of Ontario's Young Entrepreneurs Strategy. It is part of the government's commitment to raising awareness about the importance of entrepreneurship as a career option and the value of entrepreneurial skills in personal and career endeavours.

The Summer Company application process opens in December of the previous year. Applications are reviewed as they are received. Applying to Summer Company is a competitive process. Space is limited and the program reaches capacity quickly - APPLY EARLY! This program is available to any residence of Leeds and Grenville region.

For additional online information, visit the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade website.

To view the 2009 Summer Company Yearbook click the link below.
www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/1medt/smallbiz/sb_downloads/
summercompany2009_Yearbook_en.pdf 

How do you apply?

To submit an application online, click here

For more information contact Wendy Onstein at: (613) 342-8772 x 470 or e-mail wonstein@brockville.com