Sun Shines For Young Entrepreneurs’ Market Day in Manitouwadge
2014 Biz Kid$ Camp participants with facilitators Karen Robinson (far left) and Shawna Patterson (far right). Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com 2014
Brooklyn, visiting her Grandparents from out-of-town, is presented with her certificate and 10 Extreme Dollar prize from Community Programmer Shawna Patterson. Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com 2014
MANITOUWADGE, ON – Friday, August 22nd, 2014 a week of hard work, learning and plenty of fun culminated for 13 young entrepreneurs, 9 to 12yrs old, in a very successful Market Day held at the Municipal Office Parking Lot. Among the new business owners were youth from Manitouwadge, Terrace Bay and even Sault Ste. Marie, offering a wide variety of products including: fresh soup, desserts, jewelry, oil paintings, bath & beauty products and much more.
Organizer Karen Robinson, Economic Development Assistant (EDA) for the township, was very pleased with the level of participation (she had set the maximum to a dozen participants – quickly filled weeks prior) as well as with the support shown by the community “People are always interested to see what the kids have come up with as products and to hear what they have learned. There is never a guarantee in regards to customers attending on Market Day but Manitouwadge came through again as many of our young entrepreneurs sold out by the market’s end” shared Robinson, obviously very proud of the success of her young participants.
In addition to the EDA, Community Programmer Shawna Patterson served as a 2nd facilitator for the camp while Sault College Graphic Design Program Student, Matt Alexander, hired through the Summer Experience Program, helped the kids design business cards, . A number of local business owners visited during the week, speaking on topics such as the importance of customer service, the challenges of growing a business and the importance of marketing, Fire Chief Owen Cranney assisted in the role of ‘Loans Officer’ on behalf of the Economic Development Corporation, each entrepreneur was provided with a $20 loan to help with any supplies, ingredients or other components they needed to purchase; the interest-free loans were re-payed by the kids on Friday after their Market.
Siblings Cole (10yrs) and Asia (11yrs) were the only team in the 2014 camp. Their business, The Syrup Kids, sold organic syrup they made themselves using berries they picked with their parents help. Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com 2014
The camp wrapped up after the Market with a pizza party in the township’s council chambers attended by the youth and their parents/grandparents. Robinson and Patterson presented each of the entrepreneurs with a certificate and a reward of $10 Extreme Dollars (local currency accepted at all Manitouwadge businesses) from sponsor, the Manitouwadge Economic Development Corporation. For several of the participants this was a bittersweet occasion as, for the 12 year olds (some of whom had been attending the annual camp for a number of years), the celebration also marked the end of their BizKid$ experience. Robinson took the opportunity to announce that, in addition to looking forward to welcoming many of the youth back to next year’s BizKid$ Camp, she is also working, with the support of the MEDC, on a follow-up program which 13-18 year olds would be able to participate in next year.
Congratulations to all those who participated, we look forward to watching as you continue to develop as entrepreneurs and to see what those of you returning next year will be selling at the 2015 Market Day. [see video below photo gallery for a few words from the kids as well as footage of their Market Day]
