Sault Students try running their own business

Teens learn how operate a successful business Young adults in Algoma region test their business skills for three months, running their own companies. Jairus Patterson reports.

This summer, 13 teenagers and young adults in the Algoma region are testing their business skills.

For three months, the students are running their own companies in hopes of learning how operate a successful business

From selecting the coffee beans and roasting them, to grinding and eventually brewing them, Lars Moffatt loves the entire process of making a good cup of Joe.

"So I've been drinking coffee since I was twelve so it's been a long time coming and it's always been in my family." Said Moffatt at Copper Country Coffee roaster.

With his passion for coffee coming from his family, Moffatt knew he wanted to get into the industry.

“I wanted something I enjoyed and that I appreciated and I wanted to make that. I wanted to make something that represents me and the community."

With help from the summer company program by the Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship, Moffatt was able to start up his own business.

With a 1500 dollar grant from the program, 13 students are working as their own boss this summer.

"It's very important for a small community like Sault Ste. Marie to have young entrepreneurs starting new businesses and staying here. An economy like Sault Ste. Marie really depends on these young minds and small business.” said Harleen Puaar of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation .

Moffatt's coffee is named after different communities in Northern Ontario.

The university student says he is surprised by the amount of work required to have a successful business, but is grateful for the support he receives from the centre.

"We also do some training too as well.  So that's really important that definitely helps us from the small business perspective, it allows us to get some more knowledge and allows us to stay competitive throughout the summer.”

If the students complete the program, they will receive fifteen hundred dollars at the end of the summer, and that money can be invested into their company or used however they would like. They also get to keep whatever profits they make, so it could be a very profitable summer for some.