Support provided by the Government of Ontario’s On-campus Entrepreneurship Activities (OCEA) program will allow the Goodman School of Business‘ BioLinc business incubator at Brock University to launch Kick-Starting Entrepreneurship, a hands-on entrepreneurship training program for Niagara youth.

“This program, hosted by our BioLinc facility, will strengthen Brock and Niagara’s entrepreneurial activities and in turn grow our University’s entrepreneurial culture and opportunities over the long-term,” says Don Cyr, Dean, Goodman School of Business.

“At BioLinc, ‘BIO’ means new and unique Business Ideas and Opportunities so this new program will leverage our institution’s assets, as well as Niagara’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, to provide young entrepreneurs with the activities, training and resources that will help them determine if entrepreneurship is a viable career choice for them.”

The OCEA program is part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy, announced by Premier Kathleen Wynne in October 2013. Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) is managing the administration of the $5 million OCEA program.

“Fostering the entrepreneurial spirit among students is a key component of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy, through programs that help transfer their ideas and skills to the marketplace while creating rewarding careers,” said Reza Moridi, Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation, and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “By partnering with colleges and universities to support entrepreneurship, we are ensuring our province’s business leaders of tomorrow are getting the support they need to succeed today.”

“Ontario Centres of Excellence is please to be able to deliver this project as a trusted partner of the Government of Ontario,” says Tom Corr, President and CEO of Ontario Centres of Excellence. “I look forward to putting our years of experience in connecting academia and industry, and our on-going support of young entrepreneurs to good use in making this initiative a tremendous success.”

The Kick-Starting Entrepreneurship program will target Niagara youth to encourage them to explore their innovative ideas and advance their early-stage entrepreneurial aspirations. It will provide participants with two intensive training weekends, monthly seminars and events, plus a mentor and advisory services from BioLinc and Innovate Niagara, Niagara’s Regional Innovation Centre.

The program will accept up to 35 local youths while monthly activities and events will be open to all eligible youth interested in attending. Applications are being accepted until Oct. 5. Enrolment in a post-secondary program is not required.

This made-in-Niagara initiative is the result of a partnership between OCE, Brock and Innovate Niagara, each members of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE). Other partners include the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, St. Catharines Enterprise Centre, Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre, Venture Niagara, South Niagara Community Futures Development Corporation, Niagara Angel Network, and the United Way of St. Catharines and District.

Funded by the Government of Ontario, ONE is Ontario’s innovation system. The ONE is made up of regional and sector focused organizations designed to help Ontario-based entrepreneurs rapidly grow their companies and create jobs. For more information visit oneinnovation.ca

To apply: www.brocku.ca/biolinc/KSE