Summer Company  is a 4-month small group training opportunity for youth aged 15-29 who are returning to school to learn essential business skills, and connect with business community leaders while exploring self-employment over their summer break.

This is a competitive program but our advisors are here to help you succeed with your application, which is made possible by starting the conversation early for the best chance of success!
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How you spend your Summer is YOUR BUSINESS!

This program is a phenomenal learning opportunity for transferable skills for future employment or entrepreneurial ventures. Our team offers the wrap around support you are looking for through mentorship, training, and grants up to $3000.

Through SBEC, students can apply for this small group incubator and grant program to launch or expand a business idea and spend the summer as CEO of their future!
"I was awarded the Summer Company Grant from SBEC in 2023 for my company Splash Academy, which is still offering seasonal swimming lessons and will continue to for the near future. Overall my experience was amazing, everyone I worked with was extremely helpful and I can easily say my company wouldn't have been possible without their help! I strongly recommend this program to anyone who can apply. If you desire to run a business or not, the skills and experience you will learn during this program are priceless and will carry over into every aspect of your life. Thanks again to everyone at SBEC for this amazing opportunity!"

- Noah Derganc, Splash Academy

Who is Summer Company for?

  • Youth ages 15 -29 living in St. Thomas and Elgin County
  • Students returning to school in the Fall of 2024
  • Individuals who want to learn
  • Collaborative and community-oriented entrepreneurs
  • Viable businesses with a strong plan to succeed
  • People starting a businesses that have a minimum of $3000 of essential costs (cannot be home improvement, personal computers, or training costs)

Who is it NOT for?

  • Anyone who has previously received a Summer Company grant
  • People employed more than 12 hours/week outside of their business
  • People who are not committed to the 4-month training program​
A Business Advisor will follow up if eligibility criteria is met.
​This is a competitive process with limited spaces available.
We also suggest subscribing to our newsletter to stay connected with the local small business community.
Summer Company is a program of the government of Ontario that helps young people between 15 and 29 years old who are returning to school start and run their own summer business by providing funding, advice and services. The Elgin/ St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre is the hub for this program serving all of Elgin County and St. Thomas through specialized training programs, mentorship, and up to $3000 in grants.

Reach out before you need us.

“Creating an ecosystem where small businesses in Elgin County and St. Thomas can
​connect, learn and grow their business.”

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