There will be no student-run businesses at Cobourg's beach front kiosks this year. Economic Development Officer Wendy Gibson told Northumberland 89.7 that only one application was pursued this year and that was to establish a business in the Northumberland Mall. The application was discontinued when the student obtained alternate summer employment.
The Youth Entrepreneur Partnership Program was launched in 2014 as a pilot project and is seen by the Town a valuable program in offering youth between the ages of 18 and 29, living in Northumberland County, the chance to operate a business either for the summer or on an ongoing basis. The main goal of the program is to give youth the opportunity to operate a business in the hopes they will consider entrepreneurship as a career choice.
Gibson said that there were several inquiries but very little follow through by students who called in response to Cobourg's advertising of the venture. The Town takes applications throughout the year and Cobourg hopes to enlist students for the 2018 program. This is the first year when the kiosks will remain closed.
Gibson sees a bright side to the inability to have student participation. She says it is indicative of a healthy economy when student are able to find summer employment readily.
