Youth program offers $5000 for small business startups

Youth Mean Business will help youth under 30 become entrepreneurs.

Youth Mean Business Coordinator Blue Netherclift is looking for youth under 30 to take part in a program that will help them launch their own small business. — Photo courtesy Community Futures, Central Kootenay

Community Futures Central Kootenay is looking for five youth under 30 to participate in a brand new entrepreneurship program called Youth Mean Business, which will provide up to $5,000 in funding and training to help them launch their own small business. The program will begin mid-July and will support participants for up to six months as they move through the planning and launch phases of their new business.

"If you're a young person with a business idea and you want help making it a reality, this program is for you," says Blue Netherclift, who is the coordinator of Youth Mean Business and himself a small business owner. The program will include classroom instruction and one-on-one mentorship. Netherclift says the participants don't need previous business experience – but they do need a product or service to base the business on.

"If you have a skill, like designing websites or making jewelry – anything that someone would pay you to do – chances are you can turn that into a business," Netherclift says.

Community Futures has been helping Central Kootenay residents of all ages become successful business owners for more than 25 years through its Self Employment Program, but this is the first time it has offered an entrepreneurship training program specifically targeted at youth.

To be eligible for the program, youth must be unemployed or under-employed (working  20 hours or less per week), and cannot be a full time student nor receiving Employment Insurance. They must also attend a program orientation session, which will be offered in Nelson on July 2 and Castlegar on July 3.

For more information about the program and to download an application, visit www.futures.bc.ca/ymb/ or call Blue at 250-352-1933 ext. 111.

Youth Means Business is supported by Kootenay Career Development Society, Work BC and Community Futures Central Kootenay.