Community Futures Peterborough Opens Applications For The 2026 Summer Company Program

Media Release by Community Futures Peterborough:

PETERBOROUGH, ON - Applications are now open for the 2026 Summer Company Program, offering students in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County the opportunity to start and operate their own business while gaining hands-on entrepreneurial experience over the summer months.

Funded by the Province of Ontario through the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade’s Small Business Enterprise Centre program, Summer Company provides eligible students with start-up funding, business training, and one-on-one mentorship. The program supports young entrepreneurs in transforming business ideas into viable summer businesses.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and the Summer Company Program is a fantastic way to inspire the next generation of innovators right here in Peterborough," said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. "By providing young entrepreneurs with the right tools, mentorship, and financial support, we are helping them turn their creative ideas into reality while building the vital skills they need for future success in Ontario’s economy."

Students between the ages of 15 and 29 who are returning to school in September 2026 are eligible to apply for Summer Company, which is delivered by Community Futures Peterborough through its Business Advisory Centre.

“Summer Company is designed to give students a chance to explore entrepreneurship in a supportive, low-risk environment,” said Allison Adam, Entrepreneurship Officer at Community Futures Peterborough. “Many students don’t come in with a fully formed business idea, and that’s okay. What matters most is curiosity and a willingness to try. The program is about showing students that entrepreneurship is a real career path and helping them build the confidence and skills to explore it.”

Those selected for the Summer Company Program receive up to $3,000 in grant funding, along with cohort training and one-on-one mentorship as they launch and run their business this summer. Past businesses have included services and products such as lawn care, window cleaning, farm help, dance and swimming lessons, clothing brands, and more.

“Our community continues to show strong demand for entrepreneurship services, both lending and advisory,” said Devon Girard, Executive Director of Community Futures Peterborough. “The Summer Company Program is designed to spark the idea of entrepreneurship amongst our youth and introduce them to the supportive and strong ecosystem we have to advise them in their small business journey.”

In Peterborough, Summer Company students will participate in a blend of cohort and one-on-one training and learn skills such as developing a business plan, marketing strategies to launch and grow a viable business, and how to develop an accurate budget and cash flow for their small business.

“The programming we have designed ensures our students gain transferable skills that they can use to pursue entrepreneurship or to contribute to future career success across all sectors,” said Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough. “We can’t wait to see the business ideas we receive in this year’s applications that will become the next generation of leaders in our community.”

Summer Company is open to students with a wide range of interests and experience levels. Applicants do not need prior business experience or a fully developed business plan. Selection is based on motivation, willingness to learn, and the potential of the business idea.

Applications can be submitted online at cfpeterborough.ca. The program is competitive, with limited spaces available. Applications are encouraged as early as possible.

About Summer Company
Summer Company is a Government of Ontario initiative that supports young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 in starting and running their own summer businesses. The program provides business training, mentorship from local professionals, and grants of up to $3,000 to assist with start-up costs. Participants operate their businesses full-time over the summer, retain any profits earned, and gain practical, real-world business experience.

About Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City and County of Peterborough. It has invested more than $42 million in 1,300+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,600 jobs in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County. 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. In 2024, Community Futures Peterborough began delivery of the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program, funded by the Province of Ontario. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.

Media Contact:
Devon Girard
Executive Director, Community Futures Peterborough
devon@cfpeterborough.ca
705-957-3641