Last week, Grand Valley middle school student entrepreneur Roan Baldwin represented Colorado at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Saunders Scholars National Competition in Frisco, Texas. After earning the title of local Saunders Scholar earlier this year, Roan advanced to compete alongside some of the nation’s top young entrepreneurs. He presented his business, Munch Mode Machines,…
Last weekend, the Mesa Mall was transformed into something different: a marketplace of student-owned businesses. The annual Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Trade Show gave local students the opportunity to showcase businesses they have spent months developing and preparing to launch. Through the afternoon, shoppers stopped by booths to learn about products and services, ask questions,…
One of the most impactful moments in the Young Entrepreneur Academy each year is the CEO Roundtable. It is where ideas meet experience and where our students get the opportunity to step out of the classroom and into real conversations with leaders who have built, led, and grown organizations right here in our community. Last…
A strong economy depends on more than innovation and investment. It depends on informed citizens who understand how their community and government work. That connection between civic awareness and economic strength is what drives the National Civics Bee, a program that inspires middle school students to learn how everyday decisions shape the places where…
Recently, national thought leader Mark Perna visited Grand Junction to share his message about unleashing the passion, purpose, and potential of the younger generation. His keynote, brought to our community in partnership with the Business Incubator Center and the D51 Foundation, centered on a theme we couldn’t agree with more: investing in our youth is…
September marks Workforce Development Month, and at the Grand Junction Chamber, this is a time for us to reflect on the partnerships, programs, and people that prepare Mesa County for the future. Workforce development is more than just filling jobs; it’s building strong, sustainable connections between education, business, and community – ensuring that our region…
At the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, we pride ourselves on being more than just an advocate for business—we’re a driver of progress, a convener of partnerships, and a storyteller of success. Over the past seven days, that mission came to life through three celebrations that spotlighted what’s possible when passion, collaboration, and innovation…
The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) hosted its annual Trade Show last Saturday at the Mesa Mall, where our record class of 15 middle and high school students from across the county officially revealed their products and services to the public. This marks a significant milestone for students in the…
Last Wednesday evening, 15 innovative young minds took the stage at the DoubleTree by Hilton to pitch their newly formed businesses at the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Investor Panel event. This transformative program—the only YEA! chapter in the state of Colorado—guides middle and high school students through the real-world…
The Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that applications are now open for the 12th year of the Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA!). This program exemplifies the Chamber’s dedication to fostering the next generation of business leaders by providing middle and high school students a unique opportunity to bring their entrepreneurial ideas to…