Summer Company Gives Young Entrepreneurs a Start

For many students, summer work means picking up shifts, earning some money, and heading back to school in the fall. Summer Company offers something different. It gives young people in Huron County the chance to spend the summer building a business of their own, with guidance, structure, and support that makes entrepreneurship feel possible rather than intimidating.

In a recent interview on the Chamber Connect Podcast, Tricia Denomme of the Huron Business Centre explained how the program works and why it matters. Offered through the Huron Business Centre, Summer Company is open to students aged 15 to 29 who are returning to school in the fall. Participants receive business training, one-on-one support, and up to $3,000 in grant funding to help launch and operate a summer business.

What makes the program compelling is that it goes beyond the idea of a simple youth grant. Students are not just encouraged to try a business idea. They are taught how to think like business owners. That includes the visible side of the work, whether that is lawn care, apparel, food, or another service, but also the less obvious responsibilities that come with running an enterprise. Budgeting, scheduling, marketing, customer communication, invoicing, and planning all become part of the experience.

That matters because many first-time entrepreneurs, regardless of age, run into the same problem. They know the service they want to provide, but not necessarily the business systems that have to surround it. Summer Company helps bridge that gap early. It gives students a chance to learn what it means to work not only in a business, but on a business.

There is also real value in the program even for students who do not see themselves as future entrepreneurs. Running a small business for a summer builds initiative, confidence, and practical workplace skills. It teaches responsibility in a way that is hard to replicate in a classroom, and it gives young people experience that can stand out on a resume or in future applications.

In a rural county like Huron, that kind of opportunity carries added weight. Small business plays an outsized role in local communities, and programs like Summer Company help young people see a place for themselves within that economy. Some may discover a long-term entrepreneurial path. Others may simply gain a better understanding of business, work, and their own capabilities. Either outcome is worthwhile.

Applications for this year’s Summer Company program are open through May 15. For students with a business idea, or even just the beginnings of one, it is the kind of opportunity that can shape far more than a single summer.