MINTO – A start-up program that aims to help youth succeed, has granted 50 students the opportunity to enter the world of entrepreneurship this summer.
The Saugeen Student Start-Up Program (SSUP) began in 2019 when the Saugeen Connects Partnership, consisting of seven municipalities, joined the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation to create the project, officials stated.
The municipalities were Brockton, Hanover, Minto, Wellington North, West Grey, Arran-Elderslie and South Bruce.
“The overall goal really is to develop that entrepreneurial and that business mindset in the local youth,” program facilitator Jon Elzinga told the Advertiser.
The purpose of the start-up is to equip youth with the skills and resources required to run a business through five training sessions/webinars.
The sessions included budgeting, customer service, marketing/elevator pitches, as well as using A.I. and social media in one’s business.
Out of the 50 students accepted this year, 46 various businesses have evolved.
Body scrubs, natural lip balm, traditional Chinese dumplings, horse treats and kits are a few business ideas recently cultivated by students.
Student participant
“The program has many opportunities especially the workshops … I learned a lot from them,” said student participant Abdul Almohamad.
He told the Advertiser he was excited to meet new “interesting” people at the meetings.
Almohamad, 13, joined the program last year for the first time, creating a business to teach English language to his neighbours.
This time he decided to start Abdul’s Car Cleaning in his hometown of Harriston.
“I started off by cleaning my dad’s car to start practicing,” he said.
Once his father approved the fresh car, Almohamad bought the tools needed for a squeaky-clean career, using the $150 given to all accepted students.
He opened a bank account, set up a Facebook page and sent his advertisements to the post office.
“The most valuable lesson I learned was how to interact with customers and how to manage your money properly,” said Almohamad.
The most SSUP funding a participant can receive is $450. Each webinar attended is worth $25, with a $25 bonus if one attends all five.
At the end of the program students are required to complete a final report on what they learned, along with a post to social media. If completed they will receive another $150.
This year the program raised $24,450 through private sector funding and sponsors.
And no matter the revenue brought in by a student’s business, the funding remains the same, noted officials.
During his two years in the program, Almohamad said he earned over $800 for both businesses.
The SSUP has been active for five years and has now provided over 250 students with start-up funding and workshops, stated officials.
Beginning
The idea came from a Norfolk County colleague of Belinda Wick-Graham, Minto’s director of economic and community development Belinda Wick-Graham.
An economic development analyst for Norfolk County, Jerry Sucharyna originally began SSUP Norfolk to provide students the opportunity to self-employ.
Wick-Graham visited Sucharyna in Norfolk and attended his in-school presentations about the program.
“He was kind enough to let us duplicate the program with some changes,” Wick-Graham told the Advertiser.
She decided to introduce the idea to Town of Minto partners at Saugeen Connects and launch it as a regional program.
“Sadly, Jerry passed away not long after we started it from cancer so it’s nice that his legacy lives on here,” she added.
The program was also created to tackle youth retention issues, which are common in rural communities, Wick-Graham stated.
She hopes to show participating youth how many “service clubs” and “business partners” are investing in them.
“When they do go away and go to school and decide to return, they know that they’re returning home to a place that supported them when they were younger.”
Success story
Wick-Graham reminisced about one of the program’s “first success story.”
A past student in Grade 5 got into the program by creating balloon animals. That student, now known locally by his business name, Chuckles, is in Grade 11.
“He’s super successful … he comes to all our events and now he’s going all over the place doing balloons at special events,” she added.
“If people are doing their business more than one year, then that’s a good sign.”
Those interested in signing up for the summer 2025 program can visit saugeenconnects.com or email saugeenconnects@sbdc.ca.
SSUP begins advertising through local schools in the month of April.
Officials accept applications until the end of June, which is when the program starts.
Workshops operate through July with everything wrapping up at the end of August.
