RRHS student open summer business

Creativity, vision, hard work, and an eagerness to learn mean one local student is putting his business plan into action this summer as he starts his own “Summer Company”. Summer Company – one of several programs offered through the Ontario Government Young Entrepreneur Strategy – is delivered through the Northwest Business Centre and provides youth an opportunity to develop, plan, and implement a business venture.
Summer Company and the Young Entrepreneur Strategy aim to motivate young people to choose entrepreneurship as a career; equip them with the tools necessary to succeed; and provide hands-on business training and mentoring. The capstone of the program is awards up to $3000 to help them start and run their own business.
The program rewards students with:
• An award of up to $1500 in May/June to help with business start-up costs
• A $1500 award in September upon program completion and return to school
• Approximately 12 hours of business training
• An opportunity to regularly meet with local business owners/operators – a mentoring group for support and advice
A total of nine students from Kenora, Ignace, Fort Frances, and Rainy River have been selected for this year’s Summer Company experience. “Students were selected based on their entrepreneurial spirit and their ability to complete a detailed, viable, comprehensive business plan,” says Carmela Laffin of the Northwest Business Centre. Below is a profile of one local student who will run his Summer Company for the next few months.
Austin Hatch, of Bergland, Ontario, has started his own skateboard shop, Candyshop Skates, in nearby Rainy River. Rainy River’s skateboarding market is growing and without a local supplier of skateboard decks and equipment, Austin has found a niche in the community. Candyshop Skates will be selling skateboard products including, decks, wheels, bearings, as well as offering services including repairs and skating lessons. Austin, 15, believes his Summer Company will strive because product is limited in his area and with the growing local market, demand will be high.
Austin says his participation in Summer Company “helps with all the questions you have when trying to start-up a business.” Also, Austin says, “working for myself for the summer will be a great experience and I expect to learn a lot!” Austin attends Rainy River High School, and will be entering Grade 10 in September.
For further information regarding the Summer Company program and the participants, or to contact
the participants directly, please contact:
Mike Greaves, Youth Development Coordinator
Northwest Business Centre
Ph: (807) 467-4635 / F: (807) 467-4645
Email: mgreaves@lowbic.on.ca