It was a very productive summer for young Windsor-Essex business owners.
The 2024 edition of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre's (SBEC) Summer Company program concluded Tuesday with a gathering in Windsor.
The Summer Company program is an initiative from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade that provides a grant of up to $3,000 for those who apply and are accepted. Regional small business enterprise centres facilitate the program.
The participants pitched their companies during the end-of-summer event and received a certificate of congratulations from Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie on behalf of the provincial government.
"We are so proud of the achievements of this year's summer student entrepreneurs," said SBEC Executive Director Sabrina DeMarco. "The passion and commitment these students have for entrepreneurship is impressive. The Summer Company program gives these young people hands-on experience and sets them up for future careers in entrepreneurship."
This year, the program consisted of 15 young people and their families, who worked with program facilitators and mentors to create a business plan for their firms and put it into action.
Emma Colenutt is one of this year's participants. She owns Emma Faith Collections, which specializes in handmade makeup cases and keychains.
"The Summer Company program and SBEC have helped me through my entrepreneurial journey so much," said Colenutt. "Being able to ask any questions I may have about entrepreneurship and get an answer within minutes has been so beneficial. The in-person mentors that I have had the pleasure of learning from have taught me so much on how to start a successful business."
To qualify for the Summer Company program, applicants must attend high school, a postsecondary institution, or a trade school full-time, be between the ages of 15 and 29, be an Ontario resident, and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Applicants are asked to submit a business plan and sit down for an interview.
To learn more about all 15 of this year's Summer Company participants, visit the official SBEC website.
Applications for the 2025 program will be accepted starting in January.