CLIFFORD – This summer, 50 students were granted the opportunity to build a business and gain entrepreneurial skills in the process.
Saugeen Connects offered the Saugeen Student Start-Up Program (SSUP) with the help of member municipalities, private sector funding and the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation.
A total of $24,500 was raised to help youth from Brockton, South Bruce, Wellington North, Minto and Hanover achieve their business dreams.
To celebrate their successes, SSUP officials hosted an end-of-summer barbecue event at the Clifford Community Hall on Aug. 26.
“These young people should be extremely proud of themselves,” Minto Mayor Dave Turton told the Advertiser.
“It’s really exciting; I mean these kids are amazing.”
Turton was one of five municipal representatives who introduced program participants. He represented the 21 students from Minto.
“It’s a partnership between municipalities and when you get out to things like this you get to meet other councillors, mayors and people – it’s really neat,” Turton said.
This was the sixth year for the program, which has now provided over 318 students with start-up funding and interactive training/workshops.
Student entrepreneurs
Fifty SSUP students started 46 business this year, including: lawn care, babysitting, tutoring, dog-walking, custom and pre-made jewelry, food products, baked goods and more.
“It’s really great to get to know everybody and meet different people,” Minto youth Brynnlee Wick-Graham told the Advertiser.
She started Brynn’s Bowtique in July, offering personalized hairstyles such as braids, tinsel accents and soft curls.
Her station was quite popular during the event, with lots of guests opting for the tinsel service.
She originally joined as she heard “great things” about the program and had friends involved as well.
Wick-Graham believes it’s important to learn entrepreneurial skills at a young age as “it’s in our everyday lives and helps us when we grow up.”
Seventeen-year-old Tavis McCulloch of Harriston said he earned roughly $10,000 over three months with T.M Detailing, his first foray in the program.
“I thought it was a cool idea [and] thought it would be a good way to learn how to start and maintain a business,” he said.
McCulloch’s services include detailing cars, deep cleans and quick refreshes.
“I did learn a lot, especially social media wise,” he added.
McCulloch said he plans to pause his business during colder months but return in the spring as, “I already have clients that want me for next year.”
Abbygale Golley started Abby’s Organics on her family’s farm in Minto.
“We have a whole lot of vegetables and we can’t eat them all … I figured selling them might be the best way,” she said.
This was Golley’s second year in the program with the same business.
She offered farm tours, visits with chickens, sunflower planting and the opportunity to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and eggs.
“It was definitely a lot of learning and hard work,” she said.
“I’m doing business in high school so I’m hoping to take some of these skills to that class.”
Golley earned $200 during the summer months.
“If you’re thinking of joining it, definitely do it,” she said of prospective SSUP students.
“You make a lot of friendships and make money of course.”
