Ontario is helping student entrepreneurs in Guelph learn business skills, access mentorship opportunities and gain hands-on experience to start and grow a business.
The province is providing $400,000 to the University of Guelph to support its commitment to entrepreneurship through the $5 million On-Campus Entrepreneurship Activities program (OCEA).
These funds will support the university in developing the on-campus enterprise centre, centre for business and social entrepreneurship (CBaSE). This centre will be the focal point for on-campus entrepreneurship activities as well as a regional connector for local start-up companies looking for assistance with applied research and development projects.
CBaSE, in partnership with Innovation Guelph, will act as a gateway between U of G and the Guelph community facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, real world experience and measurable output.
It will support job creation and economic development opportunities by encouraging on-campus entrepreneurship and innovation, with strong ties to entrepreneurial mentors.
The OCEA program is part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy and is being launched at universities and colleges across the province.
Ontario is also investing $20 million over two years in the Campus-Linked Accelerators program to build on world-class innovation and entrepreneurial programs at campuses across the province.
OCEA and CLA programs are managed by Ontario Centres of Excellence.
Innovation Guelph is the partnering with Regional Innovation Centres (RIC) for UofG. As a member of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), it will act as the conduit between the university and the region’s business community.
Ontario is investing $295 million over two years in the Youth Jobs Strategy to help 30,000 more young people from across the province connect with the tools, experiences and entrepreneurial support they need to find employment or start their own businesses.
More than 26,000 job opportunities have already been created under the Youth Jobs Strategy.
