Summer Company in Thunder Bay: what the $3,000 student grant actually requires

A Province of Ontario grant of up to $3,000 for students aged 15 to 29 who want to start and run a summer business — $1,500 upfront and $1,500 on successful completion — delivered locally through the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre, with firm hour commitments, a mentorship requirement, and a mandatory return to school.

Summer Company is a Province of Ontario grant program that gives students aged 15 to 29 up to $3,000 to start and run a real summer business — $1,500 at the start of the program to cover startup costs, and $1,500 when you successfully complete it. In Thunder Bay, the program is delivered locally by the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre, part of the Community Economic Development Commission. To receive the full grant, you must launch a new summer business — not one you already operate — run it for a minimum number of documented hours between May and Labour Day, attend regular check-ins with a program advisor and a local business mentor, and return to school when the program ends. The 2026 application deadline was May 15 and is now closed; Summer Company reopens each spring. Confirm next-intake dates and current eligibility directly with the Entrepreneur Centre before planning around this program.

How the grant is structured

The program pays in two installments. The first $1,500 goes toward startup costs and is paid early in the program once you are accepted and have documented eligible expenses. The second $1,500 is paid when you meet all the completion requirements: the minimum business hours, the mandatory advisor and mentor meetings, and the return-to-school commitment at program end. There is no co-investment requirement — you are not required to put up matching funds to receive the grant, which distinguishes Summer Company from Starter Company Plus, the parallel program for entrepreneurs who are not students. What the program asks in exchange for the grant is time and documented effort: a real business, run for real hours, with real mentorship engagement.

Who qualifies

• Aged 15 to 29 at the time of application (parental consent required for applicants under 18)
• Currently enrolled in high school, college, or university
• Ontario resident and Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Planning to return to school after the program ends — the program is not available to students who are graduating permanently
• Not already operating a business before the program starts
• Available to work no more than 12 hours per week at any other job during the program
• Have not previously received a Summer Company grant

What you commit to during the program

The program runs from roughly May through to Labour Day. You are expected to operate your summer business as your primary activity during this period — other employment is capped at 12 hours per week. You must log a minimum of 280 hours in the business if you are a high school student, or 420 hours if you are enrolled in college or university. You are also required to attend a minimum of four meetings with your program provider and your assigned business mentor over the course of the summer. The mentorship connects you with local business leaders in Thunder Bay and is part of the program's design, not optional. Failure to meet the hour and meeting requirements puts the $1,500 completion payment at risk.

How to apply in Thunder Bay

Applications for Summer Company go through the local Small Business Enterprise Centre, not through a provincial portal. In Thunder Bay, that means the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre, a branch of the Community Economic Development Commission. There is no direct provincial application form — the Entrepreneur Centre manages the local intake, reviews applications, and connects accepted participants with business mentors. For the 2027 intake, contact the Entrepreneur Centre in late winter to ask when applications open: 807-625-3960 or gotothunderbay.ca. Starting the conversation early gives you time to develop your business concept and confirm that your situation meets current eligibility requirements before the intake window opens.

Frequently asked questions

• What kind of business can I run? Summer Company is for new businesses started for the first time — lawn care, photography, guided outdoor experiences, handmade products, repairs, food products, or other self-employment where you are the operator. You cannot run a business you already operated before the program. Some types may require municipal licensing — confirm your specific idea with the Entrepreneur Centre when you apply.
• Can I apply if I have already graduated and am not returning to school? No. Returning to school after the program ends is a core eligibility requirement. If you have permanently left school, Starter Company Plus — a separate Ontario grant of up to $5,000 for entrepreneurs who are not full-time students — may be a better fit. Confirm eligibility for either program directly with the Entrepreneur Centre.
• Can Summer Company be combined with other programs? The Entrepreneur Centre can advise on what is compatible with your specific situation. Confirm with any other program whether their rules restrict overlapping government grants before planning a combined funding approach.

Province of Ontario — Summer Company program page (eligibility: age 15-29, student status, return-to-school requirement, 12-hour work cap; grant structure: $1,500 upfront + $1,500 on completion; hour requirements: 280 for high school / 420 for post-secondary; minimum four meetings; May 15 2026 deadline; application through local SBEC): ontario.ca/page/start-summer-company-students | Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre / CEDC — local program delivery and intake contact (807-625-3960): gotothunderbay.ca | Program amounts and status verified against this site's GRANTS_DATA (src/data.js, entry ontario-summer-company, last verified 2026-07-10) and re-confirmed against the official Ontario program page, September 2026.