The Greater Collingwood Small Business Enterprise Centre is helping young people start up their own businesses with the hope of helping them build on the success of current projects to help launch a new, successful career. The Enterprise Centre Summer Company program helps enterprising students between the ages of 15 to 29 start and run their own summer businesses.

Collingwood Enterprise Centre Manager Catharine Frith says the Summer Company program provides young people with hands-on business coaching and mentoring from local community business leaders who will work with them to make their Summer Company business become a reality. The Enterprise Centre currently has 10 students from Collingwood and surrounding area working in the Summer Company program.

If accepted into the program, young people become eligible to receive an upfront award of up to $1,500 to put toward start-up costs and up to $1,500 upon successful completion of the program. Successful completion requires that the person meets the following requirements:

• implement your project substantially in accordance with the business plan

• participate in coaching and training

• meet with a local business mentor as specified

• provide documents related to the experience and business operations as

required in the guidelines, and

• meet all program requirements for establishing and operating the business.

Learn more about the Greater Collingwood Small Business Enterprise Centre by visiting them online at www.enterprisecentre.ca.