Summer Company

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 15, 2025. Once the submitted business plan and cash flow have been reviewed, student acceptance will be determined.     

Program Details

Program participants are expected to start their business no later than June 1, 2025 (for post-secondary students) and July 1, 2025 (for high school students). The program ends on Labour Day (September 1, 2025). 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 the business name has been registered.
• 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.