Summer Company

Looking for the best summer job in St. Catharines? Create one by starting your own business!

Summer Company provides students with mentorship, business skills, and startup money to have a successful summer as their own boss. Learn how to operate your own business while building skills in sales, marketing, customer relationship and networking.

Applications are now open! Please read the eligibility, acceptance requirements, program details, and funding pages carefully before completing the application form.

Eligibility
Acceptance Requirements
Program Details
Funding

To be eligible you must...

Go to high school, college or university
Live in Ontario
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Be between 15-29 years old (if under 18: a parent or guardian must sign the agreement for the applicant)
Not already be running a business
Not be working at another job or going to school for more than 12 hours a week during the program
Be returning to school after the program ends
Not have received a Summer Company grant in the past

Acceptance to the program is based on:

Completed application form.
Interview with SCEC staff.
Review of submitted business plan and cash flow forecast.

Once a student applies, they will be contacted by the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre (SCEC) to book an interview and templates for a business plan and cash flow forecast will be provided. Templates will be reviewed as part of the interview process. Students will then complete the business plan and cash flow independently and submit the completed documents to the SCEC before April 30, 2024. Once the submitted business plan and cash flow have been reviewed, student acceptance will be determined.

Acceptance to Summer Company will be on an ongoing basis until May 1, 2024 or until all program spots are filled.

Program Details

Program participants are expected to start their business between May and July 2024 and the program ends on Labour Day (September 2, 2024). Students can choose to keep running their business while back at school.

The Summer Company program requires students to commit to:

a minimum of 280 hours for high school students
a minimum of 420 hours for post-secondary students

Students can choose to start almost any type of business, as long as it is a sole proprietorship or corporation and is an independent business venture, not part of an existing or family business.

Once accepted and approved, program participants will need to:

Sign an agreement with the program provider (SCEC)
Agree to follow program guidelines.
Verify you’ve registered the business name.
Provide any other required licensing documents.
Have a bank account for the business.
Agree to at least one site visit from your program provider.
Meet your program provider and business mentor for a minimum of four meetings, over the program period.

Funding

Successful Summer Company Applicants can receive up to $3,000. Grant recipients will receive up to $1,500 to help with start-up costs and an additional $1,500 when the program requirements have been completed successfully.

Application Form:

Applicant Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Adress *

Phone Number *

Mailing Address *

City *

Postal Code *

Date of Birth *

Name of School Attending *

Last Grade or University Year Completed *

Business Information

Business Name *

City - the city you plan to operate the business in, even if different from mailing address. *

Describe your business or idea - what products or services will you offer? *

What type of business do you intend to operate? *

Sole Proprietor

Corporation

Unsure

Have you already registered a business name? *

Yes

Describe your target market - who is your ideal customer? Include demographics if possible. *

Describe your marketing plan - what types of advertising will you use and what is the approximate cost? Minimun of 2 types. *

Describe your start-up budget - what are the items and their costs that you will need in the first 30 days of your business? *

Describe any regulations you have found that would apply to your business - are there any licenses or permissions that you need to operate? *

Other Information

*If under the age of 18 only* Full name and contact information of parent or legal guardian.

Here at the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre our primary goal with the Summer Company Program is to empower and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of young individuals. To ensure a fair and meaningful experience, we have established the following rules and guidelines. Please read each of the following attestations carefully and mark if you agree.

Independent Application and Communication: Students should submit their applications and correspond with program administrators independently, without involvement from parents or guardians. Some parental consent may be required for those applicants under the age of 18 but to develop essential communication skills, gain firsthand experience in handling business-related matters, and take ownership of their entrepreneurial journey, applicants should be responsible for all communication to the program coordinator and checking all communication from the program coordinator. *

I agree

I do not agree

Embracing the Program Outcome: It is essential for applicants to understand that submitting this application does not guarantee grant funds and the outcome of their application will be communicated directly to them. While we value the support of parents and guardians, we kindly request that they refrain from getting involved in the application process or seeking information on behalf of the student. By directly receiving and understanding the outcome, participants will be better equipped to reflect on their progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions moving forward. *

I agree

I do not agree

If you are not available between 8:30 a.m - 4:30 p.m., do we have permission to leave a message with someone? If yes, include their full name and contact information. * *

Next Steps

Once the application is submitted it will be reviewed by a member of the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre (SCEC) team and you will be contacted to schedule an interview.

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