Programs:

Summer Company 2010 has been launched!

Attending the launch of Summer Company 2010, a student business awards program of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade are;

back; Jane Phillips, Manager and Business Consultant, The Business Enterprise Centre, Mentorship Committee member, Cheryl Govier, front; Rebecca Ford, Summer Company Coordinator. Back; recipients James Hawkins, Zach Johnson, Mack Thomson, Alec McKay, front; Annie Ironmonger, and Cara Benninger. Missing are Mentorship Committee members Mark Ostland, Cliff Bilyea and Eliane Preiss. 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 in awards.

2009

Attending the final meeting for Summer Company 2009, a student business awards program for the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade are back; left to right; successful Summer Company recipients Kristopher Kriina and Harmony Weatherall, Mentorship committee members Mark Ostland, Manager-Meridian Credit Union, Cliff Bilyea, Management Consultant, Cheryl Govier, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Rebecca Ford, Summer Company Coordinator and Jane Phillips, Manager-The Business Enterprise Centre. Front; left to right; successful Summer Company recipients Paige Phillips, Natalie Starr, Shelby Stryker and Dillon Sweeney.  Missing is Mentorship Committee member Eliane Preiss, Owner- Dynamic Business Management. Each student operated their business ideas full-time throughout the summer while receiving hands-on business training as well as $3000 each in awards.

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 42 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 and Walkerton, Case Management services are provided by VPI Employment and Owen Sound Family YMCA. For contact information please use the following below:

• Grey County
  Owen Sound Family YMCA
  648 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound 519-371-9222 yesos@ymcaowensound.on.ca
  
  425 10th Street, Hanover 519-364-3163 yesh@ymcaowensound.on.ca
  
  
• Bruce County
  VPI – Walkerton
  220 Trillium Court, Suite 200
  Walkerton, ON 519-881-4900
  info.grey@vpi-inc.com