Students! Do you want to be your own boss this summer?
Posted Mar 4, 2010 By EMC News
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Tweet ThisEMC Business - Are your summer job prospects looking a little bleak this year? Each year students throughout Lanark County, Smiths Falls and surrounding areas face the daunting task to find summer employment. Once again, there is some good news for entrepreneurial students between the ages of 15 and 29 in school and returning to school in the fall of 2010. This summer a group of students possibly won't be looking for summer employment, they'll be creating their own business.
The Ontario Government's Summer Company Program is in place to motivate and educate young people to possibly choose entrepreneurship as a viable career, equip them with the tools necessary to succeed and provide hands-on business training and mentoring. The program awards up to $3,000 to help students start and operate their own business throughout the summer months. The successful students receive:
Awards up to $1,500 for business start-up costs and up to $1,500 in awards upon returning to school in the fall. Approximately 12 hours of business training, and an opportunity to meet with mentors for support and advice on operating their summer business.
Shannon Derbyshire, client services officer with the Lanark-North Leeds Enterprise Centre, has been out at many high schools throughout the area since the fall talking to students and at youth groups about the program. She finds that the students show an interest with the possibility of being their own boss and like to hear stories about past Summer Company students from the local area and about the types of businesses they have started such as lawn care, camps, retail, lessons, computer repair, artisan businesses and food services, to name only a few. Cindy James, manager of the LNLEC says, that the Centre has been delivering the Summer Company Program for nine years now, in partnership with the Government of Ontario and that it is always great to see the ideas that students have and their commitment to the businesses once they open the doors. She stated that, "this program runs throughout Ontario and has many students applying, so students should apply early. It is never too early to apply, as we have recommended students already for this summer!"
Get started by...
Applying online at www.ontario.ca/summercompany to get program details and to start the application process. You can call the Enterprise Centre to get direction on this.
Write a business plan for your business idea. This is easier than you think. The Summer Company website has a business plan template to provide a guideline for the format and the information you should include in your business plan. The Lanark-North Leeds Enterprise Centre has a number of print and online resources to help young entrepreneurs research and develop their business plans. The LNLEC staff is available to answer any questions and provide direction as you develop your plan.
Upload your business plan and complete your start up budget.
Contact the Lanark-North Leeds Enterprise Centre at any point throughout this process to obtain help. The Summer Company 2010 deadline is now open until May 6, 2010, or until this program is fully subscribed to. The Centre urges interested students to apply or inquire about the program early as we already have students that we have recommended to the program. For more info about the Summer Company Program, call Shannon at the Lanark-North Leeds Enterprise Centre at 613-283-7002 ext. 109 or email smallbusiness@ripnet.com.
About Lanark-North Leeds Enterprise Centre
The LNLEC offers free info and advisory services for anyone interested in starting their own small business and for existing small business operators. The office offers a walk-in resource centre with business literature and advisory materials. The Centre is an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and partners with the Town of Smiths Falls and the County of Lanark. A counselor is available (free) by appointment for one-on-one sessions. The Centre provides a number of business seminars throughout the year. For more info call 613-283-7002 ext.108 or email cjames@LNLEC.ca.
Submitted by the Lanark-North Leeds Enterprise Centre.
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