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.

2026 Program Information Session: February 11, 2026 from 4:00pm - 5:00 pm

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 GRANT RECIPIENTS!

Callum Knox - Living Roots Carpentry & Woodworking
Carly Greavette - Pick Up Notes
Clayton Mishibinijima - Reclaim Lawn Care
Elizabeth Ton - Consider The Flowers
Jal Dhruv - Next2New Electronics
Kai Nickel - Pane Relief Exterior Services
Maheen Rajani - Axis Homme Skin
Matthias Lodewyck - Pastured Poultry
Morgan Dickinson - Happy Hibiscus
Rian Wilson - Wilson's Waves

2024 Grant Recipients

Ashuza Mutuku - Giza
Ben Enns - Enns Property Services
Bennett O'Connor - Pool Ease
Gavin Reed - Kickstarter Drumming
Kieran Necakov-Waller - Lakeview Mobile Detail
Lauren Gallant - The Collector
Nicholas Fehlow - Plush Pals
Tess Wilson-Wozniakowski - Simply Loved Media
Zubin Gatta - Niagara Shine Window Cleaning

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 connected to any existing or family 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
For tech or app-based businesses only: any technology or apps must be market-ready at time of application.

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 May 16, 2026. Once the submitted business plan and cash flow have been reviewed, student acceptance will be determined.

Acceptance will be on a rolling basis. Applications will close May 16, 2026 or when all program spots are filled, whichever is first.

Program participants are expected to start their business no later than June 1, 2026 (for post-secondary students) and July 1, 2026 (for high school students). The program ends on Labour Day (September 7, 2026). 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.
Register the business name and provide proof of registration.
Provide any other required licensing documents.
Have a bank account for the business.
Have insurance for the business and provide proof of insurance.
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.

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 if the program requirements have been completed successfully.

APPLICATIONS OPEN

Acceptance will be on a rolling basis. Applications will close May 16, 2026 or when all program spots are filled, whichever is first.

Applicant Information

First Name

Last Name

Email Adress

Phone Number

Mailing Address

City

Postal Code

Date of Birth

Name of School Currently Attending

Last Grade or University Year Completed

Name of School Attending in Fall 2026

Business Information

Business Name

Have you already registered the business name?

Yes

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

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

What would you use the grant funds to purchase and how would this help you start your business?

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 with any next steps.

Spam Blocker

Discover Why St. Catharines Is Your Business Advantage

Contact our team of experts for a consultation today.

Get Started