MARKHAM, ON ~ Join Mayor Frank Scarpitti at the 9th annual Young Entrepreneur Awards, celebrating the local winners of the Secondary School Business Plan Competition, and recognizing students who have successfully completed the Ontario Summer Company Program.

Date: Friday, September 18, 2009 Time: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Markham Civic Centre, Council Chamber
101 Town Centre Blvd., Markham

Who: Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Ted Northcott, Regional Advisor, Entrepreneurship Branch,
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Keynote Speaker: Brian Broadway, MBA, Professor, Marketing, Seneca College

The Secondary School Business Plan Competition is open to students in Grades 9-12 at any Markham high school. The challenge encourages students to develop a business concept, undertake research to determine feasibility and write a business plan to develop their entrepreneurial skills. The top award recipient will be invited to participate in the Regional Competition and, if successful at that level, in the Provincial Competition.

The Summer Company Program is open to students ages 15-29 and provides hands-on business training and mentoring – together with awards of up to $3,000 – to help enterprising young people start up and run their own summer businesses.

These programs are run by Markham’s Small Business Enterprise Centre, with support from the Ontario government and the Town of Markham.