Kelli Young is a university students but return to La Ronge in the summer to operate her business. (Submitted photo/Kelli Young)

By Derek Cornet

achievement

Young receives $5,000 microgrant for local lawn care business

Nov 25, 2022 | 1:55 PM

Betty’s Budget Lawn Care owner Kelli Young, 19, is the recipient of a $5,000 Pawâcikêwikamik Indigenous Innovation Accelerator microgrant from Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT).

Young, who is a Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) member, was in disbelief when she first learned she was going to receive the microgrant back in September. SIIT publicly announced Young was a recipient earlier this month.

“She understands that the environment and nature play a strong role in Indigenous culture,” read a statement from SIIT. “Kelli promotes eco-friendly systems and has services that allow her customers to reuse and recycle many different materials. She actively preaches and practices living a sustainable lifestyle and it carries over into her business and services offered.”

Young launched her seasonal business in May 2020 and she explained she was working 12-hour days because the demand for her services was so high. The strong demand continued in the summer of 2021 and Young now offers services including grass mowing and seeding, fertilizer, aeration, weed and dandelion control, as well as power raking and vacuuming.

“I’m a proud LLRIB member and I’m very grateful for the support from my Indigenous community,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to do anything without it. I don’t think I would have had this business or the opportunities I’ve been able to have.”

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Young plans to spend the $5,000 microgrant on increasing her online presence with a website, as well as hiring a couple of students to assist her next summer with the business.

Kelli Young has been able to increase the services she offers in the tri-communities because of a high demand. (Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies)

During the fall and winter months, Young is a post-secondary student. She spent some time in Vancouver, but is currently transferring to the University of Saskatchewan to study business. Young hopes to one day earn a masters degree in environmental sustainability.

“Once I moved to Vancouver for a year to do school, I realized pretty quickly how important nature was to me,” she said. “I wanted to come back to La Ronge and be able to carry that passion for nature outside our own household yard.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno