Returning for its fourth year, Saugeen Connects is pleased to welcome back the Saugeen Student Start-Up Program (SSUP), an initiative aimed at enabling local youth to become entrepreneurs and run their own summer businesses.

SSUP is a funding program aimed at providing the school-aged youth in the Saugeen Connects catchment area, with an opportunity to develop the skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset required to operate a small business. SSUP provides the youth with start-up funding, soft-skills and business training, enabling them to operate successful summer businesses.

This year Saugeen Connects received over 75 applicants to the program, as students from across the Saugeen Region in grades 6 to 12 pitched their business ideas to the Saugeen Connects team resulting in one of the most successful application periods to date. This summer, 58 new businesses created and operated by local youth, were accepted and launched through the SSUP.

The Saugeen Connects committee stated, “We are very excited with the growth of the SSUP, as this was one of our best application years yet! The 60-youth and 58 businesses participating in this year’s program illustrate just how the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in our local area. The SSUP participants are engaged, developing necessary real-world skills and are motivated to grow their small business, achieving the programs main objectives. This means great things for the future young entrepreneurs of our catchment area!”. Saugeen Connects is an economic development partnership that includes Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, South Bruce, Hanover, Minto, Wellington North, West Grey, and Saugeen Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

The Saugeen SSUP includes keynote presentations and weekly webinars with speaker Jessica Flynn, founder of The YOU Power Project, local banking advisors and Madison Riddolls, founder and CEO at Flirty Pineapple Inc. The SSUP provides the youth with start-up funding, bonus funding incentives and opportunities to meet-and-greet with sponsors. This program is made possible thanks to member municipalities and private-sector funding.

The summer companies include various businesses within the agricultural, retail, service, manufacturing, and hospitality sectors, plus many more unique and innovative ideas. Watch for these businesses in action this summer and follow #SaugeenSSUP across social media platforms.

A huge note of thanks goes to the following supporters:

Supported By:

Bruce County

Grey County

Wellington County

Five Star Sponsors:

County of Wellington

Grey County

Bruce County

Hanover, Bentinck & Brant Agriculture Society 

Hanover Raceway

Saugeen Economic Development Corporation

Nuclear Waste Management Organization

Libro

Three Star Sponsors:

Blessings to You

Hanover Lions Club

West Grey Durham Lions Club

Harley’s Pub & Perk

Susan & Stephen Townsend

88.7 The River Community Radio

The Wellington North Youth Action Council

Walkerton Legion

One Star Sponsors:

Minto Chamber of Commerce

Hanover Chamber of Commerce

Rotary Club of Clifford

Wightman

Ken Reay Transportation Inc.

RBC

Buddsteel Architectural Products

Meridian

Media Contact: 

Grace Murakami, Summer Intern, SEDC
519-799-5750 x 305

summerintern@sbdc.ca