Hire a student intern for 12 weeks with the Small Business Internship Program

September 2, 2009: Post-secondary school students looking to gain job experience in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding areas now have another option. The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) is pleased to administer the Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) on behalf of Industry Canada in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding areas. The program works by assisting companies with the costs of hiring a post-secondary school student for a 12 week internship position. The student internship position must help further the advancement of information and communications technologies for participating businesses and provide the intern with a hands-on work experience that facilitates the growth and development of entrepreneurship skills. Companies who participate in the SBIP must be incorporated, for profit and employ less than 500 employees. The program will run until the end of March 2010 with the goal of matching 10 student interns with participating companies.

The SBIP was established by Industry Canada to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in their quest to become more competitive and productive by enhancing their e-commerce practices, technology improvements, enhanced e-marketing and market research and/or improved customer service. SBIP will accomplish this goal through developing youth internship opportunities with eligible businesses that will serve to foster their long term employability and career development while helping them fund their post-secondary education. Of the seven organizations delivering the program in Ontario, SSMIC is the only one delivering it in northern Ontario.

“This is a great opportunity for small businesses and students alike,” said Tom Vair, executive director, SSMIC. “The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre is pleased to be administering this program in our region. We hope that businesses will take advantage of the SBIP to establish and use e-business and other technologies which can help them grow. Meanwhile, students will benefit with an internship that will help them gain valuable work experience and build important networking connections.”

SSMIC is currently accepting applications for eligible projects from small businesses and companies who fit the program requirements. These projects can include such activities as:

• Supporting e-business/information communications technology (ICT) marketing and market research for the firm
• Improving client/customer support for the firm using e-business/ICT
• Enhancing productivity of the firm using e-business/ICT
• Enhancing visibility of the firm using e-business/ICT


To learn more about participating in the SBIP in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding area, contact Tim Harmar, business development manager for SSMIC at: 942-7927 ext. 3129 or tharmar@ssmic.com

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About Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre

The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre was founded in 1999 and serves as a catalyst for growth in the IT, science and knowledge based sectors in the Algoma District. In 2009, they merged with science enterprise Algoma to combine resources and accomplish their mutual goals of enhanced innovation capacity for both the IT and bioscience sectors. The Innovation Centre works closely with community partners to enhance and improve science and IT sector opportunities.

The Innovation Centre is focused on four core areas: operating a business incubator to encourage the establishment and growth of business start-ups; providing support services to the SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) IT and science community; supporting the establishment and enhancement of advanced research projects in the region and undertaking strategic market development projects such as the highly successful GIS project.

The Innovation Centre operates an award-winning GIS department that has been recognized internationally for its unique community information utility model and advanced work in the health and human services sector.

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
1520 Queen Street East, NW 307
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G4
Telephone: 705-942-7927
http://www.ssmic.com

For More Information Contact:

Mei Ling
Communications Manager
Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
1520 Queen St. E., Rm. NW307
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G4
705-942-7927, Ext. 3122
mling@ssmic.com
http://www.ssmic.com
http://www.itssm.com