NEWS RELEASE
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE
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The Business Enterprise Centre will be celebrating youth entrepreneurship and recognizing young entrepreneurs who have successfully completed the Starter Company program as we host the first-ever Building Momentum networking event on March 31, 2015.
Youth entrepreneurship is a critical part of developing vibrant communities and robust economies.
In the past year, 21 young entrepreneurs across northeastern Ontario have participated in the Starter Company program which provided training, mentoring and the tools necessary to develop their business ideas.
As a result, seven new businesses have opened, one business has expanded, and eight jobs have been created to date. More businesses are expected to open in the upcoming months.
The Business Enterprise Centre would like to congratulate the following individuals on their entrepreneurial vision and business success:
- Nathan Boulet and Sam Boulet, Acorn Investments
- Christine Fortier, Natural Health Solutions
- Michelle Goulet, Class Act Theatre
- A.J. Last and Melanie Last, L Bridal
- Jason Michaud, Tech Galaxy
- Katherine Montigny and Julie Sheldon, Jump City Comics and Collectables
- Ken Roy, Seamless Work
- Melanie Vieno, Mel V-style
- Pamela Winton, janeBoots papercrafts
"The Starter Company program not only allowed me to obtain the funds required to open my clinic but also allowed me to build a strong business plan and gain the knowledge required to run my clinic with confidence," says Christine Fortier, who participated in the program before opening Natural Health Solutions, a Timmins-based naturopathic clinic.
Christine offers individual and group consultations providing a broad range of services, including clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and lifestyle counselling.
Jason Michaud participated in the Starter Company program to expand his tech support business located in Cochrane, Ontario.
"Opening Tech Galaxy has been a dream come true," says Michaud. "I started the business last year with the help of North Claybelt and the Ontario Self-Employed Benefit Program. Now, The Business Enterprise Centre and the Starter Company program have helped me expand my capacity, products, and marketing."
"Starter Company provides valuable resources to entrepreneurs year-round, and the Building Momentum event is a wonderful opportunity to recognize young entrepreneurs who are working hard, every day, to make their dreams a reality. In doing so, they make their communities a better place to live," says Fred Gibbons, Chairperson of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation.
Starter Company is a free program that provides young entrepreneurs with resources and support to help them start, expand, or launch their business.
The program is hosted by The Business Enterprise Centre and funded by the Ontario government as part of the 'Ready. Set. Work.' campaign and the Youth Jobs Strategy.
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