BOSTON: The Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce and the school district used $5,000 in start-up funds to launch the county’s first Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!).
The donation — $2,500 from Sam’s Club, matched by $2,500 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation — opens doors for students ages 11 to 18 to go through the process of starting and launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year.
YEA! is a program that works to transform middle and high school students into entrepreneurs. By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried on after their graduation from the program.
YEA! classes are now being hosted at Pace High until May. During classes, students brainstorm and form business ideas, make pitches to investors for start-up funding, file DBAs and launch own businesses or social movements.
Mentors and local entrepreneurs across a variety of industries, such as graphic design, web development, law, accounting, retail, manufacturing, technology and more are invited to support the students throughout the hands-on curriculum as mentors, field trip hosts or guest lecturers.
“The U.S. Chamber Foundation is delighted to team up with YEA! and Sam’s Club, and we look forward to together inspiring young people through the spirit of the free enterprise system,” said Carolyn Cawley, the foundation’s managing director. “By offering support for these educational programs, we hope to emphasize what a powerful tool entrepreneurship can be.”
YEA! was developed in 2004 at the University of Rochester, with support from the Kauffman Foundation.
“YEA! will help the Santa Rosa County School District by training our future leaders and helping them to establish strong, lasting relationships with their hometown business community,” said Charlin Knight, the school district’s director of workforce education.
“This program will enhance business education for students and provide a unique, challenging and fulfilling experience for all participants.”
