Six young entrepreneurs in the city and county of Peterborough will be getting a boost for their new summer businesses thanks to the Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough.
With ventures ranging from providing swimming lessons to offering 3D printing services, the six youth accepted into the Summer Company program will receive training, mentorship, and grants to help them succeed with their businesses.
“These students are incredibly impressive,” said Business Advisory Centre entrepreneurship officer Allison Adam in a media release. “They’re already eager to get started and are showing real potential for success.”
The provincially funded Summer Company program provides youth aged 15 to 29 with tools, guidance, and grant dollars of up to $3,000 to start and launch a business. Participants receive in-person training in key areas including business planning, marketing, and financial management, along with one-on-one mentorship tailored to their individual needs.
The Business Advisory Centre received 40 applications for this year’s program, which is almost double the number received in 2025.
“It is inspiring to see such a record-breaking number of applicants this year, and we are proud to support their journey,” said Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith on behalf of the Ontario government. “By providing students with both the financial capital and the professional mentorship they need, we are ensuring that young entrepreneurs don’t just dream about starting a business — they actually do it.”
The six young people participating in this year’s Summer Company Program are Aiden Budd of Dock to Driveway Detailing in Peterborough, Zander Bromley of Clearview in Peterborough, Caleb Galbraith of Joy Collectibles 3D in Lakefield, Emma George-Peters of Kawartha Luxe Cottage Care in Peterborough, Rutger Huntley of Peak Beach Volleyball in Millbrook, and Rielle MacDougall of Lake Safe Swim Lessons in Peterborough.
“Being accepted into the Summer Company program means that this idea is backed and validated by a fantastic team of individuals, which makes proceeding with everything feel far more achievable and realistic,” said Huntley, whose business will offer volleyball training and gameplay.
“The resources and connections from this program will be monumental for getting Peak Beach Volleyball of the ground and running. One of the scariest parts of beginning a business is the lack of promise of anything actually evolving, so to take the monetary risk out of that and have guidance is phenomenal.”
Community Futures Peterborough is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) as part of the Community Futures Program, and supports small businesses in the city and county of Peterborough with flexible financing.
In 2024, the organization also began operating the Business Advisory Centre, funded through the Ontario government’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program, with operational funding from the city and county of Peterborough.
Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark both expressed their support for the Business Advisory Centre and the Summer Company program participants, with the mayor saying “These six entrepreneurs are demonstrating creativity, ambition, and a strong commitment to our community” and the warden adding “It’s inspiring to see this next generation of entrepreneurs building skills, confidence, and businesses that will contribute to the strength and vitality of our rural and urban communities alike.”
