Saugeen Connects will be celebrating another successful summer for the annual Student Start-Up Program next month.
Jon Elzinga, a summer intern with the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation that oversees the program, says it gives students in the region an opportunity to become an entrepreneur.
"It was created by the Saugeen Connects partnership, which is a partnership between the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, and seven local municipalities in the area. So the goal of it is to provide youth in the area with funding but also training and all the other resources to help them start their own business," Elzinga explained.
The program is supported by Brockton, Hanover, Minto, Wellington North, West Grey, Arran-Elderslie, and South Bruce, as well as private sector funding.
A celebratory BBQ will be held on August 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Neustadt Hall. 50 students started up 46 businesses through the program this year thanks to over $24,000 in funding raised by Saugeen Connects.
Elzinga adds that when the program launches every year, students come to them with their ideas and they must pitch the business to the SEDC to be accepted.
"What their product is going to be, who their target market is, how they're going to advertise it, and they just pitch it to us so that we feel that it's something that could happen and it's an idea that will work," said Elzinga.
The training and workshops that are provided as part of the program cover a wide range of business related topics.
"Budgeting, very basic budgeting, which was our first training for the kids. Then we moved on to marketing. We've also worked on customer service and going forward we're going to be looking at how the kids can use AI (artificial intelligence) and that's going to be one of our next presentations," Elzinga shared excitedly.
For more information and to get connected with SSUP youth, visit: saugeenconnects.com
