The Greater Collingwood Business Enterprise Centre is looking to turn a number of local students into entrepreneurs.

The organization, which runs under the office of the economic development department, is organizing the Summer Company program and holding business plan competitions at the local high schools.

The Summer Company program is a provincial project that gives students up to $3,000 to start their own business for the summer.

Students receive $1,500 in startup costs and $1,500 after completing the program.

The program is open to students between 15 and 29 and they must be prepared to make a commitment of 35 hours a week for eight weeks.

Catherine Frith, coordinator of the centre, said about 25 local students have signed up for the program, starting a variety of businesses including house painting, selling skateboard decks and an alcohol delivery service.

Frith said the program, which is funded by the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and is really being pushed to students as an option for the future.

"It's a wonderful opportunity," she said. "It's being promoted because of how important it is to the economy."

Frith said the centre is holding a business plan competition for local high school students, asking students to put together a plan and possibly win cash awards and move on to regional and provincial competitions.

The centre is also holding a series of workshops for small business owners, including an Introduction to Bookkeeping on Wed., May 21 and Understanding Cash Flow on Wed., June. 4.

For more information, call 441-2762.