Windsor-Essex County, Ontario, Tuesday, June 28, 2016 – The Small Business Centre, a department within the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation and in partnership with the Province of Ontario has launched for the 5th year the Summer Company Program. This program offers full-time students, 15 to 29 years old an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship hands-on. This year, the Small Business Centre received 37 submissions from across the Windsor-Essex region and 25 students have been approved. Students who are accepted receive up to $1,500 to put towards the costs to start and run their own summer business, with an additional $1,500 is awarded to the students upon successful completion of the program.
New this year is an opportunity offered by a local established business, STAPLES Canada Inc., to host the 2016 Summer Company participants in-store to showcase their innovative businesses. The media and public are invited to meet them and help celebrate Ontario’s young entrepreneurs on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at the STAPLES store at 4511 Walker Road in Windsor. The public will have the opportunity to see products and discuss the services offered by the Summer Company students such as: Upcycle Designers – a manufacturer of home décor made from reclaimed wood; Pet Place – selling branded dog clothes; Charmed – a designer of handmade jewelry; OutDoorsIn – a manufacturer of wood art and The Beach House Goodie Shack, a manufacturer of island-inspired skin care products. The WindsorEssex Small Business Centre will host the Summer Company students at a variety of venues throughout this summer. Watch for updates at: www.windsoressexsmallbusiness.com and come out to meet and support this year’s Summer Company Program students.
Rakesh Naidu, CEO (Interim) of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation said, “It’s very important for us to support our youth today with programs and networking opportunities that will help them grow and prosper within the region. We know that there are approximately 17,000 small businesses in our region that have 0 to 9 employees which is a very significant impact to the economic growth of the region. We want to help turn ambitious students like these in our Summer Company Program into future entrepreneurs and successful business owners in our region.”
Sabrina DeMarco, Executive Director of the Small Business Centre added, “Since 2011, the Small Business Centre has delivered the Summer Company Program in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth. The Summer Company Program has grown year after year and this year is no exception with 25 enterprising participants. We are so pleased to deliver this program for the students to learn what it takes to manage a business through hands-on coaching, training and mentorship by local business leaders.”
MORE: ABOUT Students/Businesses at: http://windsoressexsmallbusiness.com/summer-company-entrepreneurs
Attachments: Summer Company Program Backgrounder and STAPLES CANADA INC. EVENT
