Young entrepreneurs and artists are again getting free space in Sarnia to sell their creations.
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Rebound’s Youth Makers Expo is returning July 13, the social service agency for youngsters announced this week.
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“Pretty much every single vendor and every single person who attended last year said that we should do it again,” said spokesperson Maddisyn Fisher.
Last August, a couple dozen eight-to-24-year-olds sold their creations at St. Luke’s Church.
There’s room for about 30 to sign up for this year’s return, Fisher said.
“But we’re open to the idea of having more, if we have a lot of vendor applications.”
Both 2023’s and this year’s expo are Ontario Trillium Foundation funded, using a $200,000 grant Rebound received to help with community connection in the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fisher said.
Whether the free-to-attend expo becomes an annual event from here remains to be seen, she said, noting there is no more grant funding to continue past 2024.
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“If we see a need for it moving forward, absolutely,” she said about Rebound hosting another expo, but noted that depends on funding, feasibility, and demand.
“It really depends on how this year’s goes,” she said.
Would-be vendors must sell their own original creations, she said, not on behalf of family members or larger companies.
“This is such a fantastic event and it celebrates creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit of young people,” Fisher said.
“So, by supporting events like this, by applying to be a vendor, you’re also supporting the local economy.”
Attendance at last year’s was strong, she said.
“I can’t give you exact numbers, but the event went from 10 am to 2 pm and I never saw it slow down.”
Applications are open at reboundonline.com.
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