It’s full steam ahead for our 11 YEA! student who, within just a couple of months, are already well on their way to becoming the CEO’s of their own companies! Over the course of the last month, our young entrepreneurs have taken a deep dive in creating a business plan and finalized their business ideas. Recently, our YEA! students were lucky enough to take a field trip to Chick-fil-A, where they learned all about Chick-fil-A’s unique franchising structure. Grand Junction Chick-fil-A Owner Joe Walsh provided our students with a firsthand entrepreneurial experience, teaching them about all the hard work and dedication it takes to run a successful business.
As a non-profit organization, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce YEA! program relies on the generosity of the community and of sponsors; people who identify with entrepreneurship and want to help pave the way for future entrepreneurs. Some help the student businesses get off the ground while others provide in-kind support or volunteer their time and services.
During the course of the 28-week program, more than 50 local businesses become involved with YEA! at various levels. From helping teach the basics of business to inviting students to tour their companies, volunteers participate in a variety of capacities. Students work in close cooperation with local business leaders, community leaders and educators who use their personal experiences to demonstrate how to develop ideas and objectives, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies, establish e-commerce and a web presence, and more. By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which they can carry on after their graduation from the program
For more information on how you can get involved with the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, contact Darcy Weir at 970-263-2916 or [email protected].