An economic development partnership has allowed 41 youths to start summer businesses in the communities of Brockton, Hanover, Minto, Wellington North, and West Grey.
The partnership with the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) resulted in 34 summer businesses.
Students in Grades 6 to 12 are operating a variety of enterprises ranging from lawn care, dog walking, babysitting, to selling hand-made merchandise or running a concession stand
Saugeen Connects Summer Student Start-Up program (SSUP)] offers $200 in funding as well as support form various business sponsors to help students become entrepreneurs.
SEDC General Manager Rose Austin is pleased with the work the students have put into their businesses.
“Thanks to SSUP numerous students are taking advantage of their entrepreneurial spirit and getting involved in their communities. We are overjoyed with the dedication and hard work the students have put into this program and all that it provides,” she said.
Out of Brockton, there are three new businesses. Autumn Lake is selling loom bracelets; Graham Hutcheon started his own dog walking business, and Sarah Allman is the owner of a mental health app called Setsuzku.
From West Grey, five youth have started up four new businesses. Niya Doherty and Ava Weltz are breaking out into the babysitting industry, Ryan Farlow and Zasha Ortman each have their own businesses selling farm fresh eggs, Cole Doherty is working on barbeque cleaning, and Conner Schmidt has been providing lawn care and car washing services to the community.
Eleven youths started up seven businesses in Wellington North. Jacob Seddon builds and sells custom wood planters; Lillian Tawse and Abby VanDerAa have a gardening business; Lucas Frey works at a baseball diamond selling treat bags; Nate Carriere manages a treat sales booth; Olivia Rushton and Shelby Boles are selling dry cookie ingredients in a jar; and Sierra Smith builds handmade barn board decor.
Minto welcomes eight businesses run by 10 hardworking youth. There is Abe Riley who manufactures all-natural soap, Cailey Schiestel and Shayla Glazema who each have their own babysitting businesses, Cavan Murray and Jayse Wylie who are partnering on a lawn care service, Emily Batista Santiestenban who is also running a lawn care service, Garret Schouten, aka Chuckles, who is a balloon twisting entrepreneur, Leah Dykstra and Elena Norris who are selling treats at local events; and Taryn Sinclair has a business selling farm fresh eggs.
A total of 12 businesses have started up in Hanover thanks to 14 excited youth. Rayna Marshall makes and sells Morse- code bracelets; Alyssa Kennedy Helen works from Launch Pad to provide custom welding work to her customers; Brody Aljoe started a business in graphic design; Lilliana Feather, Kahlen Meyers and Autumn Lorenz are working together on their business called Leashine where they provide dog walking services; Danielle Goetz has also started her own dog walking business; Kaylee Lantz is serving other youth in her community as a French tutor; Grace Weber works out of the Class Factory providing youth fitness classes; Kyler Edwards has a lawn care business; Maverick Lacey has his own concession selling beverages at the Keady Market; Mel Blakeney makes and sells customized toys and dolls; Oliver Aeberhard has a wood carving business; and Paige Schlorff is offering babysitting services.
The Saugeen student program provides a meet-and-greet with sponsors, extensive workshop training, start-up funding and an opportunity to earn bonus cash through active participation in SSUP initiatives.
