Youth Opportunities
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre has information on the following programs to help young entrepreneurs get the training they need to start a successful business and to help qualify for special financial assistance.
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
This registered national charity that provides business start up loans for entrepreneurs ag 18 - 34. Entreprenuers can access up to $15,000 from CYBF (a matching Business Development Bank loan is available to bring the possible amount up to $30,000). The CYBF program is administered locally by the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre - Waterloo location. Please contact Roy Weber at 519.747.6265 or visit the CYBF website for more details.
Summer Company
The Summer Company program provides hands-on business training and mentoring - together with awards of up to $3,000 - to help enterprising young people start up and run their own summer business.
Learn more about Summer Company and check your eligibility for 2008. Your local Waterloo Region Small Business Centre contact is Rob Clement (519.741.2986).
Secondary School Business Plan Competition
Business Plan Competition 2009 - Details
The Business Plan Competition encourages students to test their abilities in preparing a business plan, which will be eligible for awards through peer competition. Small Business Enterprise Centres across the province hold local business plan competitions in their community, as supported by the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship(MSBE).
This unique learning opportunity is open to all full-time secondary school students within Ontario between the ages of 15 and 20. Every student, regardless of stream of study is eligible to apply and receives in classroom assistance from the consultants in their local area. Plans can be submitted by an individual, partners or as a team (usually a maximum of 4 students).
The business plans are then judged by a local panel, made up of business leaders and local sponsors. Winners and finalists receive awards at a local ceremony at the end of the school year. Awards can range from a cash prize to a year's tuition, depending on the local community and corporate sponsorship.
The top winner of each local competition can then advance to Regional competition, and four Regional Champions compete to become the Provincial winner.
Learn more about the Business Plan Competition from MSBE, or contact your local Waterloo Region Small Business Centre program co-ordinator: elizabeth.esenbergs@kitchener.ca or 519.741.2985.
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