Are you a student that wants to open up a summer business?
The Summer Company program offers students ages 15 - 29 up to $3,000, to start and operate a summer business. Summer Company provides hands-on coaching, training, and mentoring from business leaders in our community. Hear from our previous participants to see how the program can benefit your business.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the program is administered in the Algoma region by the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
Who can apply?
Eligible participants for the Summer Company program are:
- Students between 15-29 years of age (if under 18: a partent or guardian must sign the program agreement)
- Canadian citizens or permant residents of Ontario
- A sole proprietor or corporation (where the applicant is the majority shareholder)
- Not already running a registered business
- Not working at another job or going to school for more than 12 hours a week during the program
- Returning to school after the program ends
- Have not previously received the Summer Company grant
Ineligible businesses for the Summer Company program include:
- Partnerships/co-operatives
- Distributorship/franchisefranchises
- Business ventures that are subsidiaries or divisions of an existing business
- Pay-per-click business
- Commissioned sales
- Multi-level marketing
- Single events
Detailed program guidelines and eligbility criteria can be found at ontario.ca/summercompany. Need more information? Contact Jessica at j.maione@cityssm.on.ca.
The Summer 2025 intake is now closed. Applications will re-open in February for the Summer 2026 intake.