The General Manager at SEDC, Rose Austin, states how pleased they are with the work the students have put into their businesses. “Thanks to SSUP numerous students are taking advantage of their entrepreneurial spirit and getting involved in their communities. We are overjoyed with the dedication and hard-work the students have put into this program and all that it provides.”

Saugeen Connects would like to briefly introduce the incredible student entrepreneurs and their businesses: 

Out of Brockton there are three businesses run by three incredible youth. Autumn Lake is selling loom bracelets; Graham Hutcheon started his own dog walking business, and Sarah Allman is the owner of a mental health app called Setsuzku. 

SSUP has helped 11 wonderful youth to start-up seven businesses in Wellington North. Jacob Seddon builds and sells his very own custom wood planters; Lillian Tawse and Abby VanDerAa have a gardening business; Lucas Frey works at a baseball diamond selling treat bags; Nate Carriere manages a treat sales booth; Olivia Rushton and Shelby Boles are selling dry cookie ingredients in a jar; and Sierra Smith builds handmade barn board decor.

Minto welcomes eight businesses run by 10 hardworking youth. There is Abe Riley who manufactures all natural soap, Cailey Schiestel and Shayla Glazema who each have their own babysitting businesses, Cavan Murray and Jayse Wylie who are partnering on a lawn care service, Emily Batista Santiestenban who is also running a lawn care service, Garret Schouten, aka Chuckles, who is a balloon twisting entrepreneur, Leah Dykstra and Elena Norris who are selling treats at local events; and Taryn Sinclair has a business selling farm fresh eggs.

A total of 12 businesses have started up in Hanover thanks to 14 excited youth. Rayna Marshall makes and sells Morsecode bracelets; Alyssa Kennedy Helen works from Launch Pad to provide custom welding work to her customers; Brody Aljoe started a business in graphic design; Lilliana Feather, Kahlen Meyers and Autumn Lorenz are working together on their business called Leashine where they provide dog walking services; Danielle Goetz has also started her own dog walking business; Kaylee Lantz is serving other youth in her community as a French tutor; Grace Weber works out of the Class Factory providing youth fitness classes; Kyler Edwards has a lawn care business; Maverick Lacey has his own concession selling beverages at the Keady Market; Mel Blakeney makes and sells customized toys and dolls; Oliver Aeberhard has a wood carving business; and Paige Schlorff is offering babysitting services. You can see some of these young entrepreneurs in action at Hanover Raceway race nights.  

SSUP is a funding program aimed at youth from grades 6 to12 in the Saugeen Connects catchment area. The Saugeen SSUP provides a meet-and-greet with sponsors, extensive workshop training, start-up funding and an opportunity to earn bonus cash through active participation in SSUP initiatives. In addition to a grant from the Rural Economic Development fund through the provincial Ministry of Rural Affairs, the member municipalities acquired private-sector sponsors to contribute to the funding for SSUP.

A huge note of thanks goes out to our wonderful sponsors:

Five Star Sponsors:

Three Star Sponsors:

One Star Sponsors:

Media Contact:

Rose Austin, General Manager, SEDC

519-799-5750 x 1

saugeenconnects@sbdc.ca