At the Small Business Enterprise Centre, we're dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs like you succeed in today's ever-changing business market. Whether you're thinking about opening a business, formulating your business plan, or undergoing change in an established business, the Centre has the expertise to help propel your ideas forward. Cassandra Baccardax is the Senior Economic Development Officer - Entrepreneurship Brampton Small Business Enterprise Centre 33 Queen St. West, 1st Floor Brampton, ON, L6Y 1L9 905-874-2650; www.brampton-business.com Student Business Plans Recognized
Brampton - Stacey Yue, a Grade 12 student from Turner Fenton Secondary School is the Grand Prize Winner of the Brampton Small Business Enterprise Centre's Business Plan Competition (BizPlan). BizPlan is a competition open to all high school students in Ontario to develop an effective plan for operating a small business.
Stacey's plan was for Athene SAT & Tutoring Sevices, a company which she is operating this summer as part of the Centre's Summer Company program. Honourable Mention goes to Elizabeth Bang and Merina Thenganatt, students from St. Marguerite d'Youville Secondary School for their business plan, Harmony Tea House.
The winners were announced at a ceremony on June 25, at Veseuvio's Ristorante in Brampton. For capturing first prize, Yue received a $2,000 Business Style Prize Package sponsored by Bramalea City Centre. Bang and Thenganatt each received a one-year Student Fitness Membership from the City of Brampton Parks & Recreation Department.
"Bizplan is an outstanding way to promote entrepreneurship amongst our youth," said Regional Councillor Elaine Moore, Chair of the Small Business Advisory Team."The students are to be commended for their developing business savvy."
Since 2002, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, in partnership with the network of Small Business Enterprise Centres, has celebrated the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Ontario's high school students with the Ontario Secondary School Business Plan Competition. BizPlan was introduced in 2006 to all high school students throughout Brampton and Caledon.
Brampton's winner will now compete in the Regional Finals for South-Western Ontario. The winner from each region will then compete for a placement at the Provincial level. Regional winners are presented with bursaries of up to $1,000 and Provincial winners with bursaries of up to $1,500. All finalists are honoured at an annual awards banquet in the Fall where the Regional and Provincial winners are announced.
Stacey Yue, the Grand Prize Winner of the Business Plan Competition
For more information on the Brampton Small Business Enterprise Centre, BizPlan Competition and the Summer Company program, visit www.brampton-business.com.