Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Community Futures Development Corporation

Youth Entrepreneurship Program(YEP)

A collaborative initiative of the Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation, the Prescott-Russell Community Futures Corporation, and the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Community Futures Development Corporation. The Youth Entrepreneurship Program is designed to encourage youth to explore entrepreneurship and consider self-employment as a viable career option. It promotes creativity and innovation in learning and provides opportunities for youth to experience personal growth by being actively engaged in their local communities. The ultimate goal of the initiative is youth retention in our communities.

For more information on the YEP program visit www.yep-pej.ca

Create A Logo (Grades 4 to 6)

The “Create a Logo” program plants the seed of entrepreneurship and leadership among elementary school students in Grades 4-6 in a fun and creative way. Students must identify a business opportunity that they believe could work in their community, their region or anywhere in Ontario. They are required to write a paragraph describing what their business is about and design a logo which reflects the name of their business, the product or service their business will provide and briefly explain the meaning behind their logo. This program exposes youth to new career opportunities within their community and region.

Market Your Thoughts (Grades 7 to 8)

“Market Your Thoughts” is a competition to encourage intermediate level students in Grades 7 and 8 to creatively think about enterprising ventures and pursue entrepreneurial thinking and action. We are identifying, recognizing, rewarding and supporting the talent and initiatives of our enterprising young people. The competition involves students identifying a business opportunity that they believe could work in the province of Ontario and the writing of an essay describing the business concept. Students will have an opportunity to win prizes donated by local businesses and sponsors.

Youth Enterprise Camp (Ages 10-14)

The “Youth Enterprise Camp” provides opportunities for a selection of Renfrew County, United Counties of Prescott & Russell, and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry youth to attend a week-long camp centred on Entrepreneurship. Participants learn about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, finding suppliers and financing, marketing their products and how to write a business plan. Youth will meet successful entrepreneurs, shop for their own supplies, and finish off the week by running their business for a day. The learning activities are complemented by a variety of physical and team-building activities to give the participants a fun and dynamic summer camp experience. Camps are offered in both English and French.

Local Entrepreneur Hall of Fame (Grades 4 to 8)

The “Local Entrepreneur Hall of Fame” program engages elementary school students to explore and research the history of prominent local business people and businesses. Each student selects one of these entrepreneurs to present to their class in a creative and innovative format. Achievement Awards will be given to both the best student presentation and the enterprise/entrepreneur whose profile showcases a significant contribution to our local economy. This program helps students develop good investigative and public speaking skills, while entrepreneurs will benefit from free local publicity for their business.

Generation E (Grades 9 to 12)

“Generation E” is a one-day session that allows participants to think creatively to better understand their connection to the world of entrepreneurship and self-employment. There is no shortage of idea generation in this workshop; it is a very fun, quick paced, activity-based day. Participants will explore their entrepreneurial potential, and find out if entrepreneurship is a career option they may want to consider. Youth usually leave Generation E with a confidence that they possess the ability to generate as many ideas as the next person.

The Business Plan Competition

The SD&G CFDC will work with partners on business plan competitions. The Summer Company program is a business plan competition hosted by the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre. Please refer to their website for further information on the program. www.businessenterprisecentre.ca .

The SD&G CFDC will also participate in, Venture Education, an initiative of the Upper Canada District School Board.

The Many Faces of Entrepreneurs (Post Secondary)

“The Many Faces of Entrepreneurs” is a discussion forum where a diverse group of local entrepreneurs will engage post-secondary students in a discussion about the many possible entrepreneurial opportunities and challenges that arise in business. The discussion leaders will provide encouragement and information to assist others to follow in their footsteps becoming entrepreneurs.

Schmooze, Don’t Snooze (Post Secondary)

“Schmooze, Don’t Snooze” consists of one-hour networking sessions which is held before business hours, after business hours or at noon-hour, once a month, in partnership with local Chambers of Commerce. Successful entrepreneurs have all the right contacts and personal and social networks help people stay connected to the business community. These sessions will give young entrepreneurs the chance to meet and learn from successful business men and women in the community.

As the majority of the programs are run in partnership with schools, there are no fees to participate in the youth programming, excluding the Youth Enterprise Camp

For more information on this initiative, please visit:

SD&G CFDC Youth Entrepreneurship Coordinator:

Sheldon Reasbeck, 613-932-4333 ext. 23

E: sreasbeck@sdgcfdc.on.ca

This initiative would not be possible without our numerous partners and the generosity of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Eastern Ontario Development Program.

With the Support of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario