The Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland hosted its Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase on Wednesday at Staples in Cobourg.

There are 19 young entrepreneurs this year in two different programs.

The My Future My Career Entrepreneurship Program, now in its third year, is for ages 8 to 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 1100 dollars in combined sales, 13 pre-orders and other connections made while the young entrepreneurs also learned business operations and customer services. 

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

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

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.

Northumberland 89.7 is showcasing some of the young entrepreneurs over the next few days on the newscast, which you can hear at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. as well as 12:00, 1:00, 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. 

Here are some of the entrepreneurs who spoke with Northumberland 89.7.

Scotty Rutherford from Colborne - Scotty’s Wood Shop

You can find Scotty’s Wood Shop items for sale at the Big Apple Country Market on Saturdays and Sundays in Colborne until Labour Day weekend.

Meaghan Caldwell of Cobourg - Fourth Gen Baking

Support offered through the Summer Company program has been welcomed by Caldwell.

You can check out Fourth Gen Baking on Facebook and Instagram. She has been selling her baked goods at the Port Hope Farmers’ Market as well but this is the final Saturday that she will be there.

Jack Griffiths of Cobourg - Grunt Work Guru

For Griffiths, the grant from the Summer Company Program made starting his business possible, especially while trying to afford post-secondary school costs in the fall.

You can check out his business at gruntworkguru.com or e-mail him at jack.griffiths@gruntworkguru.com

Mikayla da Costa of Cobourg - Beadtopia Bracelets

Mikayla’s creations are also available downtown Cobourg at the Little Underground store.

Mikayla is grateful for the My Future My Career program.

Ben Marshall, of Hastings, Bag’Em Freeze Dried Food

Marshall says sales were good from the started but have “skyrocketed” thanks to assisted from the Summer Company program.

Marshall sells at festivals, but his product can also be found at TNS Health Food Store in Cobourg as well as Stirling Candy Store, Robyn’s Nest in Warkworth and the canteen at the Rotary fields in Campbellford. Online orders can be placed on Facebook Marketplace and he has a website coming as well.