The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, joined 20 enterprising young people from across the province for the Youth Ventures 13 Annual Awards Luncheon today, which was held in Harbour Grace.

Minister Sullivan took the opportunity to announce the Provincial Government's commitment of $80,000 to Youth Ventures for 2010.

"Encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation among our youth is key to helping our next generation become strong, self-reliant, and successful," said Minister Sullivan. "That is why the Williams Government has proudly supported Youth Ventures through the years. I admire the way this program pairs youth with experienced business people to create learning opportunities, and I was delighted to present this year's Mentor of the Year award to Jennifer McCarthy. I hope more members of the business community will follow her example and get involved, and I look forward to seeing more youth taking advantage of this great program."

Youth Ventures, a program delivered by Community Business Development Corporations and various community partners, has been empowering young people to turn their hobbies, interests, and passions into profitable ventures since 1992. The program is available to students across the province from May to September every year, and a provincial coordinator is available year round for youth who need help developing their own business.

"We are very proud of the fact that we are now helping almost 300 students start approximately 200 businesses each year," said Gerry Burke, Chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community Business Development Corporations. "Our partners play a key role in making that possible, so we are very appreciative of their ongoing support. Working together, we are ensuring young people will have the foundations they need to be the business leaders of tomorrow."

"I'm pleased Youth Ventures had its annual awards luncheon in this area," said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace. "Many of our talented young people are eager to contribute their skills and abilities to existing organizations, but it is important that they realize those very skills and abilities could help them lead their own enterprises. I hope this event inspires more youth to consider careers as entrepreneurs, and I wish the award winners all the best."

The Provincial Government's funding commitment to Youth Ventures is complementary to its Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy. Creating A Province of Choice: A Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador was launched on November 5, 2009. Developed for youth, by youth, in close collaboration with business, labour, and community leaders, the strategy is supported by a three-year $15 million budget and contains 41 action items that are aimed at making Newfoundland and Labrador a province of choice for young people to live and work, now and in the future.

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