Young Entrepreneur Bursary offers grants, mentorship to those under 35

By Ian MacKay

Business people up to 35 years old can receive grants and mentorship through the Young Entrepreneur Bursary program.

The $5,000 bursary helps "young business owners as they grow their ventures and contribute to their local economies and communities," said Warren Kaeding, the trade and export development minister. "Young entrepreneurs are the future of our province." The province and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce operate the program.

Applicants must be between 18 and 35 and have been in business for fewer than 10 years. The application deadline for 2026-27 is July 17. Over 340 people in 87 communities applied last year. See saskchamber.com for information on how to apply.

The province provides the chamber with nearly $1 million over three years to administer the program.

"Saskatchewan is home to extraordinary entrepreneurial talent, in every city, town and rural community across this province," said Prabha Ramaswamy, who directs the chamber in Regina. The program "was created to find that talent, invest in it and connect it to the networks and opportunities it deserves."

"Sometimes the greatest investment in a community is not money, it is giving someone the belief that their story, their dreams and their future actually matter," said Montana Lautamus, who owns Montana's Photo Works in Moose Jaw and received a bursary last year.

Saskatchewan has 124 small businesses per 1,000 people, the second-highest per-capita rate in the country, and they make up 98.8 per cent of the province's businesses, the statement said.