Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership program funds student businesses

Article content

Half a dozen student entrepreneurs are in business this summer with help from a long-running program at the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership.

Article content

Each year, the provincially funded summer company program helps youth, who must be age 15 to 29 and returning to school in the fall, set up businesses with startup funding and other support.

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

“The program provides the students with up to $3,000 in grant funding to launch their businesses,” said Alison Minato, manager of the partnership’s Business Enterprise Centre. “And then, we supplement that with training through the summer.”

That includes a “training blitz” early in the season with a business coach, “to ensure they get some core business essentials,” Minato said.

Other sessions are held on topics such as financial management and digital marketing.

“It’s a great opportunity to develop their business knowledge and skills,” Minato said. “It also helps them build their own confidence in what they’re able to achieve.”

Article content

Taking part in the summer business program is also “a great resume builder” and experience for the students, she said.

“Usually, they’re in a business in something they truly are interested in and they love,” while making some money during the summer, Minato said.

This year’s program includes a range of businesses from lawn care and power washing to AI tools for local businesses, swimming lessons, handmade art and prints and a home nail salon.

“Lawncare tends to be something we see every year,” Minato said. “This year we have a great mix” and student businesses spread around Sarnia-Lambton, she said.

More applications came into the program this year than in 2024, Minato said.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to give grants to everybody who applied,” she said. “It was a very competitive process.”

Article content

The local program did receive additional support from the province to help two more student businesses this summer than in 2024, Minato said.

“For such a small investment, there’s such huge potential impact in helping people with their summer employment, helping them gain skills, helping them prepare themselves for their future career journey,” she said.

This is the 26th year for the program locally, she said.

This year’s student businesses include Nails by Murph, a home nail salon by Autumn Murphy, of Corunna, Waterwise swimming lessons by Johnathan Lamontage, of Sarnia, L and L Power Washing by Luca Andali, of Sarnia, L and L Lawn Care by Luke Laevens, of Bright’s Grove, AlphaWave AI by Mustafe Arif, of Camlachie, and R Little Art by Rae Lillie of Watford.

More information about the businesses is available by contacting the centre at [email protected], and can also be found on the partnership’s website www.sarnialambton.on.ca/media-releases/2025-summer-company.

“If someone’s interested in potentially doing the program next summer” they are also welcome to contact the centre “and we’ll let them know what they need to do to apply,” Minato said.

[email protected]

Article content