An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants
Next intake not announced

Summer Company

by Grants Ontario / Transfer Payment Ontario

Summer Company gives Ontario students aged 15-29 up to $3,000 to start and run a real summer business: up to $1,500 up front for start-up costs and up to $1,500 on completing the program, plus hands-on coaching and mentoring. You must be returning to school in the fall, run the business between April 1 and Labour Day (280-420 minimum hours), and apply early through your local Small Business Enterprise Centre, spots fill quickly.

Amount
Up to $3,000 Award of up to $3,000: up to $1,500 up front for start-up costs, and up to $1,500 on successful completion of the program. This award range, $3,000, against every tracked amount from $1,000 to $500,000,000, on a logarithmic scale.

Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.

ontario.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

a first payment of up to $1,500 for start-up costs ... a second payment of up to $1,500 once you've successfully completed the program

Instrument
Grant (non-repayable)
Status
Next intake not announced watch this page or subscribe to the calendar
Who qualifies
Individuals
  • individual
  • Student aged 15-29 as of April 30, 2026
  • Attending school and returning to school in the fall
  • Ontario resident; Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • May not work another job or attend school more than 12 hours/week during the program
  • Minimum business hours: 280 (high school students) / 420 (post-secondary students)
  • Not eligible if you've received Summer Company funding before

ontario.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Where
Algoma District · Cochrane District · Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Kenora District · Manitoulin District · District Municipality of Muskoka · Nipissing District · Parry Sound District · Rainy River District · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Thunder Bay District · Timiskaming District11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program.Algoma District: eligibleCochrane District: eligibleGreater Sudbury (single-tier census division): eligibleKenora District: eligibleManitoulin District: eligibleNipissing District: eligibleParry Sound District: eligibleRainy River District: eligibleSudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury): eligibleThunder Bay District: eligibleTimiskaming District: eligible

11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.

Built for
Students & individuals Startups & new entrepreneurs

How do you apply?

Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.

  1. Apply through your local Small Business Enterprise Centre (apply early, space is limited and the program reaches capacity quickly)
  2. Provider review and interview
  3. Approval and first payment (up to $1,500)
  4. Run the business with training, coaching and mentoring
  5. Complete program requirements for the final payment (up to $1,500)

ontario.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Common questions

How much do I get and when?

Up to $3,000 total: a first payment of up to $1,500 for start-up costs after acceptance, and a second payment of up to $1,500 once you successfully complete the program requirements.

Can I have a part-time job too?

Only barely, you cannot work another job or attend school more than 12 hours per week during the program. The business is meant to be your summer job.

How many hours must the business run?

High school students must put in at least 280 hours; post-secondary students at least 420 hours, between April 1 and Labour Day.

Can I do it twice?

No, past Summer Company recipients are not eligible to receive funding again.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

Guides that cover this program

Notes on this record

Province-wide program listed for its Northern Ontario delivery through local SBECs (Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Kenora and others). Age cut-off date (April 30, 2026) is program-year-specific and should be re-verified each spring, sla_tier t1.

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

www.ontario.ca