From the ground up

BY MARIE LITALIEN

For young people with a business idea, the challenge of getting their venture up-and-running can seem overwhelming. Some are unaware of the many programs available to help these young entrepreneurs.

With some hard work, and the use of some of the resources available, these business ideas can come to life.

A year ago, 20-year-old Zach Medeiros' dream of offering property drainage system installations was just that; a dream. Two months ago, Medeiros' idea become a reality and his business, Custom Turf Outfitters, came to life.

Medeiros received a $15,000 loan from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF). The CYFB not only helps young entrepreneurs financially, but provides them with mentoring and business resources, such as online business plans, marketing tips and advice. He plans to use the loan from CYFB as running capital.

"A lot of our resources are available online," said Tanya Bédard, CYBF Manager for northern Ontario.

Through the CYBF, Medeiros has access to a mentor and an accountant for two years, whom he can call on with questions or concerns about his new business.

The CYBF provides youths aged 18 to 34 with help in their business endeavours when traditional funding sources would most likely deny financing. The organization's mandate is to keep entrepreneurship alive in order to create economic prosperity in communities.

Medeiros' idea was innovative, said Bédard. Medeiros has the drive, which is what the organization looks for in loan candidates, Bédard said. "He blew us away as far as character," she continued.

Custom Turf Outfitters offers drainage and bunker drainage systems to residential properties, as well as to golf courses. It is a mobile landscaping company that offers residential and commercial gardening and landscaping services, including the installation of sprinkler and irrigation systems.

Medeiros has a history in the turf business. His father is the super-intendant at the Idylwilde Golf and Country Club.

"I worked on a golf course my whole life," Medeiros said. "A lot of the practises I just learned (while) growing up."

While working for a contractor in British Columbia, Medeiros realized the demand for the type of services his new business provides.

Medeiros attended the University of Guelph in the turf management program and, although he said he learned a lot during his studies, the potential for drainage business was appealing to him after his work out west.

In five years, Medeiros, a Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School graduate, said he hopes to be providing his drainage services to golf courses full-time and country-wide. "My equipment fits into a truck and trailer so I'm very mobile," he said. "It is in very high demand and there aren't many companies in Canada that do it."

Medeiros currently employs one full-time and two part-time workers and is the sole owner of the business.

Opening a business takes commitment and a strong work ethic, said Medeiros.

He advises other young people in the city who want to build a business, to visit the Regional Business Centre, located on Cedar Street downtown. The organization directed him to loans and funding available to him as a young entrepreneur, including the CYBF.

The Regional Business Centre offers services for marketing and business plans, information on legal issues, seminars and much more.

Visit www.regionalbusiness.ca and click on Our Programs for links to available youth entrepreneurship programs.