Programs:

Summer Company

This is an Ontario government program for students aged 15 to 29 to start and run a summer business.  Summer Company is delivered and coordinated through your local Business Enterprise Centre.  Successful applicants will receive up to $1500 for business start up costs along with hands-on coaching and training and an additional award of up to $1500 upon successful completion of the program. 

For program details visit www.summercompany.ca or call the Business Enterprise Centre Owen Sound & Area at 519-371-3232.

Attending the launch of Summer Company 2008, a student business awards program of the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services are left to right; Cheryl Govier, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Cliff Bilyea, Management Consultant, recipients Brent Szabo, Emily Langridge, Callee Rice, Eric Hemple, Mitch Eckensweiler, Jane Phillips, The Business Enterprise Centre, Owen Sound & Area, Jill Roote, Saugeen Shores Business Enterprise Centre, Erin Zorzi, Meridian Credit Union. Front; Recipients Jamie Bond, Brad Bastien, Chris Bianco, Jesse Erlich. Missing is Jared Evans. Each student will begin to operate their own business idea and run it throughout the summer. They receive hands-on business training as well as up to $3000 each in awards.

Grey Bruce Secondary School Business Plan Competition

The Business Plan Competition is open to all Grey and Bruce secondary school students. Students write business plans and submit them to their local Enterprise Centre by the deadline (usually in May). Plans are judged by a local panel, made up of business leaders and local sponsors. Winners and finalists receive cash awards, the top winner of each local competition goes on to the Regional Competition, and regional winners go on to the Provincial Competition.

Attending the awards ceremony of the Ontario Secondary School Business Plan Competition 2008, a program of the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services are left to right; Chris Bianco (3rd Place), Chelsea Wilhelm-Maskis (2nd Place), Joanna McEwen (1st Place), Jane Phillips, The Business Enterprise Centre, Owen Sound & Area, Jill Roote, Saugeen Shores Business Enterprise Centre, Erin Zorzi, Meridian Credit Union. Each student submitted their business plan to the local Business Enterprise Centre and cash prizes were awarded to the top 3 plans. Joanna will go on to compete in the regional competition and the regional winner will compete for a placement at the Provincial level.

Ontario Self Employment Benefit Program

The Self-Employment Benefit Program is designed to provide "Employment Insurance (EI) eligible" or "Reachback" clients with income and entrepreneurial support while they develop and implement their business plan. The program provides the necessary training and counselling support to launch full-time new businesses in the Grey Bruce and Simcoe regions. The application process consists of Business Planning training, Advisory and Plan Assessment. If accepted, income support for the first 32 weeks of business operations, Business Skills Enhancement training, ongoing Business Advisory services and networking opportunities are available. Employment Ontario Programs are funded in part by the Government of Canada

The Business Enterprise Centre - Owen Sound and Area delivers the workshops and plan development portion of the program where the focus of the SEB program is on business start-up. We require that the applicant has a solid business concept idea and is committed to starting-up upon completion of the Business Planning Workshop Series, and acceptance into SEB. Individuals must clearly demonstrate their "entrepreneurial frame of mind", have a viable business concept with a "reasonable chance of success" in the region and be recommended for acceptance into this federally funded program by SEB personnel.

Clients must work with their Case Manager to determine their eligibility and suitability for self employment as a career option.

In Owen Sound, Walkerton and Collingwood, Case Management services are provided by VPI Employment, contact the office in your area:

• VPI – Owen Sound Office
  1450 1st Avenue West, 2nd Floor
  Owen Sound, ON 519-3714707
• VPI – Walkerton
  220 Trillium Court, Suite 200
  Walkerton, ON 519-881-4900