Summer Company and the E.R. Monaco Young Entrepreneurs Awards

The City of Hamilton’s Hamilton Business Centre (HBC) is excited to share two incredible youth entrepreneurship programs available to students in 2026: Summer Company and the E.R. Monaco Young Entrepreneurs Awards. These programs provide hands-on business training, mentorship, and funding opportunities to help students bring their business ideas to life. We would love the opportunity to visit your classroom to share information about the free youth programs and resources available to students through the City of Hamilton.

Summer Company 2026- Application Portal is NOW OPEN!

The Summer Company program, funded by the Ontario government, supports young entrepreneurs in launching and operating a summer business. Students will receive:

• Up to $3,000 in funding to start their business
• Business training and mentorship from industry experts
• A valuable entrepreneurial experience to develop skills for the future

Eligibility:

• Aged 15-29 and returning to school in Fall 2026
• Resident of Ontario, Canadian citizen, or Permanent Resident
• Available to commit 8-12 weeks full-time hours to their business in the summer months.

Learn more & apply: Summer Company Website

Program timeline:

• High School Students: July-Sept 1 2026

Application Deadline: Monday, May 4^th 2026 by 11:59 pm.

E.R. Monaco Young Entrepreneurs Awards

This youth program gives high school students in Hamilton the chance to develop a professional business plan and compete for cash prizes.

How It Works:

• Students create a startup business plan (not an existing business/franchise)
• Students or Teachers can submit business plans to: [email protected]
• Plans are evaluated by local business professionals
• The top participants will be invited to a banquet/award ceremony in early October
• The top three plans will receive cash prizes up to $500

Eligibility:

• Aged 15-20
• Attending a Hamilton-area high school
• Can apply individually or in groups (max. 2 students)

Application Deadline: September 2026

More Details: https://investinhamilton.ca/hamilton-business-centre/e-r-monaco-business-plan-competition/

** A business plan guideline and judging criteria for the E.R. Monaco Awards are available on webpage (students can use their own template or template assigned by teacher). Teachers can submit on student’s behalf at the end of the school year or students can apply individually up until September.

Supporting Your Students

We would love to collaborate with you to ensure your students have access to these opportunities. We can provide:

• In-class or virtual presentations on our Youth Programs and starting a business
• Virtual Q&A sessions for students
• Presentation slide deck to present on your own
• Resources, including success stories, business plan templates, and more
• Social media posts/newsletter copy to share on your channels

Contact us for questions or presentations:
Phone: (905) 540-6400
Email: [email protected]