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Youth Opportunities Unleashed (YOU)
Financing | Entrepreneurial Training | Mentorship | Youth Success Stories | Business Planning | Resources | Contact Information
The purpose of the
YOU program is to assist young adults between 18 and 30 years of age to consider opening
a business in their community. (Fact Sheet)
YOU has three components:
Financing
Through the Regional Economic and Co-operative Development's Small Business Loans Association (SBLA)
Program, a YOU entrepreneur can access up to $15,000 to assist in starting
or expanding his/her business.
To qualify for these
loans, the YOU entrepreneur must present a complete and feasible business
plan including a three-year financial projection to their local SBLA.
In addition, the loan applicant must complete a loan application that
includes a demand promissory note, a general security agreement and
an application fee. During the application process a YOU entrepreneur
will be expected to provide information to the SBLA related to his/her
intentions for training and arranging for a mentor.
YOU entrepreneurs
can use SBLA loans to purchase assets, such as equipment. Monies cannot
be used for operating expenses or for repayment of existing debt. Loans
are granted at competitive interest rates, which vary with each association,
up to a maximum of 10% per year. Businesses have up to five years to
repay their loans.
The Board of Directors
of the SBLA will assess all proposals on the feasibility of the business
concept and approve or decline your loan. Applicants may be required
to pledge additional security such as specific assets, provide a co-signor
or a guarantor.
Entrepreneurial
Training
There are many workshops, seminars, training programs and courses available
to help you succeed in business in Saskatchewan, so it can be confusing
when you try to determine the one(s) that best meet your interests,
locale, wallet, etc.
YOU and our partner organizations offer workshops on:
- Introduction
to Entrepreneurship
- Introduction
to Financing Your Business
- Introduction
to Business Management
- Introduction
to Marketing Your Business
These workshops
will help you learn what you need to know to become a successful entrepreneur.
They offer the type of practical business knowledge - assessing the
viability of your business ideas, developing a business plan - that
helps transform dreams into reality.
Mentorship
The mentorship phase is still in development. We hope to have full details
of this component in the spring of 2006.
Youth
Success Stories
Business
Planning
Entrepreneurship is
a key to job creation in Saskatchewan. Entrepreneurs, working alone or
in co-operatives, create the small businesses that provide most of the
jobs in the province.
The Business
and Co-operative Information Resource Materials Index (PDF 88 KB)
contains links to all of the information to guide you through the steps
toward starting and operating your business.
Resources:
- Canada Revenue
Agency offers New GST Registrant workshops; phone Regina (306) 780-7688
or Saskatoon (306) 975-5945
- Canada-Saskatchewan
Business Service Centre - The CSBSC offers a wealth of information
and assistance to help you with your entrepreneurship or small business
plans. CSBSC offers events and seminars throughout the province and
online tools such as Business Toolbox (includes a Business Start-up
Assistant, a step-by-step tool for creating a comprehensive business
plan, a performance benchmarking tool). Visit www.cbsc.org/sask/
or phone 1-800-667-4374 for more information.
- Community
Futures Development Corporations - CFDCs throughout the province
offer programs that foster job creation through business creation and
expansion. Each office offers unique training opportunities. Find the
CFDC office closest to you.
- Equifax
Canada - Consumer Information Centre - When applying for financing,
your credit history is a major factor. This link helps explain your
credit file and how to access your credit history.
- Saskatchewan Finance
provides provincial sales tax training; phone (306) 787-6633
- Saskatchewan
Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) - SIAST offers
post-secondary education and training out of four main campuses across
the province: Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert. Discover
what each campus can offer you.
- Saskatchewan
Regional Colleges - Provides the opportunity to access post-secondary
education and business training in a community near you. This link has
information about, and links to the colleges in the province.
- Saskatchewan Regional Economic and Co-operative Development -- Regional Offices
- Western
Economic Diversification Canada - A department of the Government
of Canada, WD administers programs and services that advance innovation,
entrepreneurship and sustainable communities through innovative partnerships
with public and private sectors, other levels of government, academic
and financial institutions, and research centres to make the most of
its investment in Western Canada. This link will take you to a list
of events and training seminars offered by WD.
- Women
Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.(W.E.) - A non-profit organization,
assisting women considering starting a business or operating an existing
business. W.E. offers a wide range of programs and services including
business advising and resources, business loans, publications, networking
and mentoring opportunities, youth initiatives, as well as training
workshops and seminars that focus on business skill development. This
link will take you to a list of conferences and events offered by W.E.
- SaskYouth.Net
- Your portal to the latest information, tips and news about school,
career, health, money and more. If you're considering starting your
own business, you have to do some serious thinking, and SaskYouth.Net
offers links to a variety of programs and services to help you BE YOUR
OWN BOSS!
For
more information, contact:
YOU Initiative
Regional Economic and Co-operative Development
200-3085 Albert Street
REGINA SK S4S 0B1
Phone: 1-800-265-2001
Fax: (306) 798-0796
Email: YOU@gov.sk.ca
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