NORFOLK COUNTY, Ont. – May 2, 2017 – Norfolk County is Ontario’s Garden, taking the lead in growing young entrepreneurs in partnership with established businesses and organizations.
Norfolk County students in Grades 6 to 12 with a summer business idea may receive up to $300 to start up their operations, if they apply to the Student Start Up Program (SSUP). Deadline to apply is Friday, June 23, 2017, at 4:30 p.m. The process is simple: students complete an online or paper form, adding supporting documents, if they wish.
“Applying is easy,” said Jerry Sucharyna, Economic Development Analyst with Norfolk County’s Tourism and Economic Development office. “The more information provided by the student increases their chances of being approved.”
Last year, Norfolk County staff presented information to classes in all but two schools in all local school boards. Presentations will happen again this spring.
Successful student applicants will be notified by the end of June and receive $200 each to start their businesses. Those who submit a final report and photo of their business at the end of the summer will receive an additional $100.
For more information, go to norfolkbusiness.ca/ssup-norfolk.
Last year, 40 student businesses involving 52 students were funded. Sponsors in 2016 included Annex Business Media, Titan Trailers, Van Amerongen & Son, Rassaun Services, MHN Lawyers, The Beach House, CarStar Collison & Glass Service, Picard’s, Venture Norfolk, Norfolk Rotaract Club, The Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show, MyFM, Simcoe Reformer and Whistling Gardens.
More sponsorship interest has already been expressed for 2017. Repeat sponsors are enthusiastic about the difference the program has made and provincial recognition.
SSUP was awarded Best Private-Public Partnership by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario earlier this year, plus an honourable mention in the best-of-show category awarded by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
