The Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland's Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase on Wednesday in Cobourg featured the most participants yet.

There are 19 young entrepreneurs this year in two different programs, including 15 in the My Future My Career Entrepreneurship Program. Now in its third year, the program is for ages 8-14 who successfully applied and received a micro grant for up to $500.

The Summer Company program, supported by the Government of Ontario, for ages 15 to 29 provides successful applicants with business planning, mentoring, skill development, networking and a micro grant of up to $3,000. It’s designed for students return to high school or post-secondary.

The participants on hand at Staples made more than $1,100 dollars in combined sales, 13 pre-orders and other connections made while the young entrepreneurs also learned business operations and customer services. 

This year’s My Future My Career Kids Entrepreneurship Program participants are: Alison Aide, 12, of Warkworth, Gigglebugs; Josh Bennett, 9, of Roseneath, Little Bennetts Farm; Gage Boyd-Stofleth, 12, of Cobourg, The Power Plant; Cole Chilvers, 12, of Cobourg, Grow Your Game; Mikayla da Costa, 10, of Cobourg, Beadtopia Bracelets; Shi Fournier, 13, of Cobourg, Lemons Galore; Irena Gill Kieszkowski, 12, of Cobourg, Irena’s Crafty Creations; Ophelia Greer, 9, of Baltimore, Pom Pom Toys; Ava Hagerman, 13, of Codrington, Sassy Scents by Ava; Izzy Harkness, 12, of Baltimore, Izzy’s Incredible Desserts; Sophia Jilesen, 12, of Port Hope, Watercolour by Sophia; Walden Reed, 9, of Cobourg, Chicken Chimes; Alice Russell, 11, of Cobourg, Cute & Cool Treats and Scotty Rutherford, 9, of Colborne, Scotty’s Wood Shop.

10-year-old Mikayla da Costa had some of her product on display at the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase. Photo by Jeff Gard

The Summer Company participants are: Meaghan Caldwell, Fourth Gen Baking, of Cobourg; Chase Cameron, Always on Top Apparel, of Baltimore; Colin Crews, Woodpecker Wood Service, of Brighton; Jack Griffiths, Grunt Work Guru, of Cobourg; and Ben Marshall, Bag’Em Freeze Dried Food, of Hastings.

To learn more about the successful applicants from the Summer Company and My Future My Career programs, visit Northumberland.ca/BECNYouthShowcase.

Listen below to the audio report: