NEUSTADT, ON: This is the sixth year running the Saugeen Student Start-Up Program with Saugeen Connects, and the program has now provided over 318 students with start-up funding and interactive training/workshops to try entrepreneurship over the summer months.
Due to the overwhelming 115 applicants, the Saugeen Connects committee had to make a difficult decision on how many participants to allow, while balancing applications meeting the identified criteria with the amount of community sponsorship received. After reviewing each application thoroughly, the hard decision to allow 60 applicants entry into the program was made.
60 students granted an opportunity to try entrepreneurship for the summer months
This summer, 60 students have started 57 various businesses, including: Lawn Care, Babysitting and Tutoring, Dog-Walking, Custom and Pre-made Jewelry, Thrifted Clothing and Accessories, Food Products and Baked Goods, Golf Equipment and Apparel, Drone Videography, Digital Design Services, and other creative entrepreneurial businesses. The Saugeen Student Start-Up Program (SSUP) is offered to students within the Saugeen Connects catchment region who are in Grades 6-12.
The Student Start Up Program is made possible thanks to member municipalities and by acquiring private sector funding, and this year Saugeen Connects has raised a total of $23,600.
A big “Thanks” goes to our supporters; Bruce County, Grey County, Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, and Wellington County.
Thanks to our 5 Star Sponsors; The Walkerton Legion, Hammond Power Solutions, Blessings to You Centre, Hanover Bentick and Brant Agricultural Society, Hanover Raceway, and Mildmay-Carrick Optimists Club.
Thanks to our 3 Star Sponsors; The Walkerton District Optimists Club, HIPP Entrepreneur (Hanover’s Innovative Peoples Program), Hanover Lions Club, 88.7 The River, Teeswater Agricultural Society, and Teeswater Kinsmen Club.
Thank you to our 1 Star Sponsors: Minto Chamber of Commerce, Palmerston Lions Club, Minto Optimists Club, RBC, Clifford Rotary Club, Harriston Kinsmen Club, CMR Insurance, Hanover Chamber of Commerce, Buddsteel Architectural Products, and South Bruce Community & Business Association.
Thank you for your commitment to the youth in the Saugeen Connects area.
Look for the Saugeen SSUP participants as they participate in your local Farmer’s Markets, Minto Summer Student Night Market, youth day at the Hanover Raceway, and the Hanover Fair.
In total;
- Six students are from Brockton; Adelynn Ernest, Curtis White, Emily Van Straten, Emma Lippert, Myla Lippert, and Jack Craig.
- Seven students are from South Bruce; Brielle Fischer, Carter Wilkins, Chelsea Voisin, Clara Scott, James Fortney, Josh Clarke, and Presley Winters.
- Four Students from Wellington North; Hannah Creamer, Adrianne Dekker, Katherine Bhalla, and Sashvind Sri.
- Twenty-Four students from Minto; Abbygale Golley, Aaliyah Cacait. Abbie Osahon, Abdul Almohamad, Arwa Almohamad, Blianne Enriquez, Brielle Chartrand, Brynnlee Graham, Caleigh Lubbers, Cassie Armstrong, Clodagh Mullan, Ella Macrobbie, Evan Riley, Gabby Diemert, Gavyn Moore, Hazel Miller, Jeffrey Gillet, Maddix Matthews, Makilah Orth, Penny Reaume, Savannah Brubacher, Savera Bassi, and Tavis McCulloch.
- Nineteen students from Hanover; Ainslie Salvatore, Remy Salvatore, Aleksander Karasev, Brielle Davis, Cash DeBlock, Daelyn Darian, Drew Thunstrom, Ethan Warner, Everett Ibbotson, Gage Irvine, Xander Irvine, Isabella topham, Jenviya Patel, Josey Wettlaufer, Myla Hilgendorff, Nick Crawford, Nixon Brown, Nora Johnston, and Shaylee Allard
SEDC and five municipalities, Brockton, Hanover, Minto, Wellington North, and South Bruce, banded together in a partnership to create a project called “Saugeen Connects.” The mission is to collaborate and positively impact area economic growth, support youth retention and development, support growth and retention of businesses, and integrate efforts to support workforce development and leverage immigrant attraction to the area as residents, workers, entrepreneurs, business owners, operators, and investors.
For more information and to get connected with SSUP youth, visit: saugeenconnects.com/youth