Jul. 20, 2007 - Summer Initiatives

Summer Company entrepreneurs making their mark in Halton

Halton's newest entrepreneurs are now open for business as part of Halton Region's 2007 Summer Company Program. Summer Company is an initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, delivered in Halton by the Region's Business Development Centre.

"Summer Company is about so much more than simply getting a part-time job for a few months," said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. "Students in the program will learn valuable business skills, interact with volunteers in our business community, receive training in starting and running a business, and network with their peers in an inspiring and supportive environment. The lessons from this experience will last a lifetime."

Through this program, which kicked off in May, secondary and post-secondary school students between 15 and 29 were eligible to receive up to $3,000 to help them start and run their own summer businesses. The students in this year’s program receive guidance from local business professionals who volunteer as mentors for the new young business owners, and also receive training on marketing, bookkeeping, and how to run a successful business.

Each participant runs their own company, and their services this year include lawn care, pool servicing and power washing. The following students are open for business:

• Bill MacDonald, Augusta Masters Lawn Service Tel: 905-334-9841
• Fred Malinski, Lively Lawn Tel: 905-616-7430
• Daniel Mandic, Up ‘N’ Running Pool Service Tel: 905-464-1867
• Adam Willhoeft, Blast IT Clean Power Washing Tel: 905-334-4933
• Mike Zhang, Lawn Sharks Tel: 905-808-3090

This year’s Summer Company mentors are local Halton business professionals. Halton Region would like to acknowledge the following mentors:

• Grant Buchan-Terrell, Barrister & Solicitor
• Ed Foster, The Incorporators
• Pat Hutton, RBC Royal Bank
• Jan van der Hoop, Hiring Smart Canada Inc.

“The volunteer mentors from our business community are an essential part of the Summer Company experience, and we appreciate their generosity in offering their time and expertise,” said Carr.

Summer Company is one of the youth entrepreneurship programs offered by Halton Region’s Business Development Centre. Halton Region also holds an annual Business Plan Competition for secondary school students across Halton. The Business Plan Competition is offered through partnership and sponsorship by the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and RBC Royal Bank.