Young Entrepreneurs

1.   Programs and  Services

1.1  Young Entrepreneur Awards
Every year, the BDC presents the Young Entrepreneur Awards (YEA). Thirteen young Canadian entrepreneurs aged between 19 and 35 years old - one from each province and territory - will receive these awards to recognize their accomplishments. One of them will also receive the Export Achievement Award from Export Development Canada.

For further information, see the document  Young Entrepreneur Awards, contact the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1-877-BDC BANX (1-877-232-2269) or visit BDC's Web site at: http://www.bdc.ca/en/home.htm.

1.2  New Brunswick Advisory Council on Youth
The New Brunswick Advisory Council on Youth is the provincial body representative of youth, which voices the interests, needs, concerns and perspectives of young people aged 15-25, and presents recommendations to government and public. This is achieved by acting as an advisory and advocacy body, through resource coordination and by research and consultation. Through its actions, the New Brunswick Advisory Council on Youth strives to be a catalyst for increasing youth involvement in society.

For further information, contact the New Brunswick Advisory Council on Youth at 506- 453-3271 , toll-free at:  1-888-830-5588 or visit the Council's Web site at:   http://www.gnb.ca/0049/index-e.asp.

1.3  Open for Business
Open for Business helps individuals discover, develop and fine-tune their business skills, or take that great idea and turn it into a successful entrepreneurial adventure. No appointment is required to access one-on-one entrepreneurial support. Open For Business also provides access to the world of creating and operating a business by providing support in various areas.

For more information, visit the OFB Web site at: http://www.ofbnetwork.com or visit the OFB office at:

113 Roseberry Street
Room 410
Campbellton , New Brunswick     E3N3H4
Telephone:   506- 753-4570
Toll-free:      1-800-590-8481
Fax:              506- 753-4568
Email:           openbus3@nb.aibn.com

1.4  Canadian Youth Business Foundation
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national non-profit organization that encourages and supports young Canadians, 18 to 34 years of age, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and contribute to their community by establishing successful businesses. In addition to a loan program (please refer to section 2.2 of this guide), the CYBF also provides mentoring and online business support.

For further information, contact the Canadian Youth Business Foundation at 1-866-646-2922 or visit the Web site at the following address:  www.cybf.ca.

2.   Financial Assistance for Young Entrepreneurs

2.1  Aboriginal Business Canada
Thousands of Aboriginal entrepreneurs got their start or expanded their operations with help from Aboriginal Business Canada. First Nations, Métis and Inuit business and financial institutions have also established services, and developed and strengthened their networks to create a driving force in the economy of Canada 's First Peoples.  

If you are an Aboriginal individual between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive), we offer broader support. Contributions are available to help you establish, acquire or expand a business, to source financing, to access markets and to develop the specific management skills you will need. This will help you to move into a more competitive marketplace. The business opportunity can be in any sector.

For further information, see the document Aboriginal Business Canada, contact Aboriginal Business Canada at 902- 426-2018 or visit the Web site: http://www.bdc.ca/fr/home.htm.

2.2  Canadian Youth Business Foundation
The CYBF provides loans of up to $15,000 to cover the start-up costs. Loan repayments of three or five years are available to ease the early stages of business growth.
 
For further information, contact the Canadian Youth Business Foundation at 1-866-646-2922 or visit the Web site at the following address: www.cybf.ca.

2.3  Student Employment and Experience Development (SEED) - Student Entrepreneurship
Through Student Entrepreneurship, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour can offer you a loan guarantee up to $3,000 and pay the interest on your business loan for the summer. In addition, should you repay the loan on time, you will receive a rebate of one-third of the value of the loan. If you are a student of at least 16 years of age and planning to return to school in the fall, you are eligible.

For further information, see the document PSETL-Student Employment and Experience Development (SEED) Program, call 506- 453-3818 , contact your local Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour regional office or visit the Web site at the following address: http://www.gnb.ca/0311/1ce.htm.

2.4  Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative (YEDI)
The Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative (YEDI) is an ACOA initiative designed to expand and enhance the entrepreneurship training, information and support services available to Atlantic Canadians under 35 years of age. Investments will be made in three key areas:  aspiring entrepreneurs, existing entrepreneurs and community entrepreneurship development. ACOA assistance is non-repayable and limited to the percentage of eligible costs necessary for the project to proceed.

For more information, see the document  Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative, call 1-800-561-4030 or visit the Web site: http://www.acoa.ca/e/financial/yedi.shtml.

3.  Incentives to Hire Youth

3.1  Student Employment and Experience Development (SEED) - Summer Employment Placements
Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, through the Central Provincial Student Referral Office, maintains a database of eligible students who wish to obtain employment through Summer Employment Placements. Municipalities, non-profit groups and provincial government departments and agencies that want to offer students interesting and worthwhile projects during the summer months may apply for funding. If approved, the funding helps employers to create the student positions. Employers can select from a list of eligible students referred to them from the Provincial Student Referral Office, where the needs of the employer are matched with the education and skills identified by the students.

For further information, see the document PSETL-Student Employment and Experience Development (SEED) Program, call 506- 453-3818 , contact your local Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour regional office or visit the Web site at the following address:   http://www.gnb.ca/0311/3ce.htm.

3.2  Youth Internships - NRC/IRAP
The National Research Council of Canada has two internship programs managed by the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). These programs provides financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who want to hire post-secondary graduates. The two programs are: Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and the Collaborative Research Internship Program.

For further information, see the document Youth Internships NRC-IRAP, contact the NRC at 1-877-994-4727 or visit the Web site at the following address: http://irap-pari.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/english/youthinitiatives_e.html.

3.3  Youth Employment Strategy
The Government of Canada created the Youth Employment Strategy to help young Canadians (15 to 30) obtain career information, develop skills, find good jobs and stay employed. This national strategy offers a broad range of initiatives under three programs:

• Skills Link helps young people who face more barriers to employment than others. They could be high school dropouts, parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, youth in rural areas or recent immigrants.
• Summer Work Experience helps secondary and post-secondary students find summer jobs.
• Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates develop advanced skills and find careers in their fields.

For more information, visit the Youth Employment Strategy Web site at:  http://www.youth.gc.ca/yoaux.jsp?&lang=en&flash=1&ta=1&auxpageid=707 or contact the Youth Info Line at 1-800-935-5555 .

3.4   Youth Link
Youth Link is a guide, developed through Youth Employment Strategy (YES), to over 200 Government of Canada programs, services and resources for youth. Young people can access information on work experience and learning opportunities, entrepreneurship, international work and travel experience, student loans, scholarships and much more. This booklet targets 15 to 30 year olds as well as counsellors , parents, educators, employers and community groups.

For more information, see the document Youth Link - publication, call 1-800-935-5555 or visit the Youth Link Web site at:  http://www.youth.gc.ca/yoaux.jsp?&lang=en&flash=0&ta=1&auxpageid=886.

4.  Protection of Personal Information: Your Responsibilities

The Guide to Canada 's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act  (PIPEDA) helps businesses understand their obligations and comply to the Act. Since January 1, 2004 , the PIPED Act covers the collection, use or disclosure of personal information in the course of all commercial activities in Canada , except in provinces which have enacted legislation that is deemed to be substantially similar to the federal law.

For more information, see the document Protection of Personal Information - Your Responsibilities Your Responsibilities , call toll-free 1-800-282-1376 or visit the Web site:  www.privcom.gc.ca/information/guide_e.asp.

5.  Associations

5.1  Young Entrepreneurs Association
The Young Entrepreneurs Association (YEA) is a member run, not-for-profit association dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship furthering the growth and success of small business and educating young entrepreneurs. To use most of the YEA's services, you must be a member. The Association's primary activities are providing monthly workshops and seminars on topics of interest to small business owners and networking opportunities and social events.  

For more information, contact the YEA at1-888-639-3222 or visit the YEA Web site at:  http://www.yea.ca.

6.  Other Web Sites of Interest

ACE-Canada - is a registered national not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping young entrepreneurial Canadians succeed in the new economy:  http://www.acecanada.ca/.

Junior Achievement - is an international non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring young people about business and economics:  http://www.jacan.org.

7.   Canada / New Brunswick Business Service Centre

The Canada / New Brunswick Business Service Centre is an innovative partnership of federal and provincial government departments. Both levels of government work with key private-sector organizations to create a seamless information network for entrepreneurs.

Our mission is to improve the start-up, survival and growth rates of small and medium sized enterprises by giving business people in every part of New Brunswick access to accurate, timely and relevant information and referrals.

What can we do for you? We can guide you in the right direction! We can give you the information you need! We are your best source of comprehensive business information!

The Canada / New Brunswick Business Service Centre is accessible province-wide and free of charge. You may reach us through our toll-free number or visit us with your questions. Our office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , Monday to Friday. We also provide a 24-hour business information service, seven days a week, through our Web site.

Here's how to reach us:  

Canada/New Brunswick Business Service Centre
Ground Floor, Barker House
570 Queen Street
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 6Z6
Telephone: 506-444-6140
Fax: 506-444-6172
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: cbscnb@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nb
Hours of operation: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday - except Government holidays