First Posted: 4/1/2015
LIMA — The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging local students to “follow their dreams.”
The Chamber is offering the Young Entrepreneurs Academy for the first time this year because it knows there’s a “need in the area,” said Nicole Scott, chamber communications director.
Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a national 30-week program that teaches middle school and high school students to be entrepreneurs. For three hours a week after class, students work to develop a business or social movement idea and see it through to completion by launching their own business or movement.
The United States Chamber encouraged its member chambers to host the program, and the local chamber took on the challenge, only one of three to do so in the state.
“We have discovered there’s a definite need for the education for entrepreneurship,” Scott said. “We feel if we start with the younger generation … they will be more equipped for entrepreneurship in the community.”
Many people have a great idea and a passion for it but don’t know how to start a business, Scott said. She’s noticed that entrepreneurship seems to be a trend lately, making it a good time to offer this program.
“Downtown is evolving, and so are our youth,” Scott said. “Our youth have great ideas.”
Many hope those youth and their ideas will stay and grow in the community.
“We want to keep our kids in Allen County,” said Dean Wittwer, superintendent of the Allen County Educational Service Center. The center is partnering with the chamber to offer the program.
The program has spots for 24 students in the county and costs about $350 to attend, though the chamber is offering scholarships and a payment plan. There’s a $10 application fee, and applications are due May 22.
“We’re looking for passion,” Scott said. Students will be interviewed after they apply, she said.
The program starts with a brainstorming session and then the students create a demo, manufacture and work to sell their product or services, Scott said.
“They go through every step of the process,” she said.
The program has the potential to grow after this year, and could even be offered for class credit at schools.
“This has tremendous capability for those real-world experiences,” Wittwer said. “My hope is that they’ll get to be able to see what it takes to start a business or have an appreciation of what entrepreneurs go through.”
The chamber wants to “help our community grow,” Scott said.
“I think we have evolved into a society of ‘follow your dreams,’” she said, “where you’re inspired to make a change and make a difference and you’re supported with that.”
