Excellence in Entrepreneurship
It wasn't business as usual for seven of Nova Scotia's young entrepreneurs today. The group, representing four new businesses, was at a luncheon in Halifax to accept achievement awards presented by Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism.
The winners of the Regional Awards of Merit -- representing Cape Breton, northeastern Nova Scotia, western Nova Scotia and the Halifax area -- were honoured for their success in operating student-run businesses started through Economic Development and Tourism's Youth Entrepreneurial Skills (YES) program.
The YES program assists full-time students between the ages of 16 and 29 who wish to set up and operate a business. It helps participants prepare a business plan, provides business counselling and training, and offers interest-free loans through a partnership with Royal Bank.
More than 1,300 students have benefited from the program since it began in 1984, and more than $3 million in loans have been administered.
"Entrepreneurship is an important job-creation engine in this province -- and young entrepreneurs are the fuel for that engine,"said Mr. MacDonald. "It's people like today's award winners who play a vital role in the development of this province's economy in the future."
This year's award winners are Mary Middleton, Michael Sponagle, Carrie Donovan and Morgan Hicks of the Post Road Tea Room in Mount Uniacke; Jason Walter of Jay's Dickie Dee in Sydney; Tenille MacKenzie of Buy the Scoop in Truro; and Rachel Beach of Pronto Screen Printing in Halifax.
The 1998 YES program was also launched at the award ceremony with the announcement of new components and the unveiling of a new look.
YES has traditionally been a lending program. Participants had to apply for a loan in order to take advantage of the training and counselling components of the program. This year, interested students can tap into all of the resources YES has to offer without borrowing money. These students will go through the same process as those receiving loans and will also be eligible for a newly established series of regional scholarships.
The new logo corresponds with the program's focus on youth. Applications for the 1998 YES program are available through Economic Development and Tourism's Business Service Centres throughout the province, or by calling 1-800-565-2009. The deadline for applications is May 29.