Small Business Development Center’s Young Entrepreneurs Program choke full of benefits
Since the program began in 2007, more than 700 young people between the ages of 14 and 27 have participated.
Along the way, they’ve realized that entrepreneurship can be a viable career path while learning how to think and act like an entrepreneur in everything they do.
Case Study
When Andrew Acda was 16, he came to the Small Business Development Center during a Young Entrepreneurs Program meeting with an idea for a business, because he had heard the program might be able to help.
Now, two years later, after taking advantage of the program’s various services — including workshops, field trips, one-on-one consulting sessions with experienced business advisers and entrepreneurship conferences — Acda is now ready to launch his second business, a sports accessories company called IndexOne.
The YEP is funded by the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development program and hosted locally by the College of the Canyons. SBDC YEP was started in response to survey studies that indicated more than half of individuals aged 14 to 27 have the desire to start a business.
With a suite of resources targeted towards young entrepreneurs, the YEP program provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to help them start and grow their businesses — giving participants a helpful head start in their business ventures while simultaneously having a positive impact on the local economy.
Through partnerships with other colleges and universities, area high schools, youth organizations and small business owners throughout the region, Young Entrepreneurs has been able to reach a growing number of business-minded young people throughout their communities.
During each field trip, YEP participants were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the business location and provided an opportunity to ask questions and learn key lessons associated with each business or industry.
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Source: http://www.the-signal.com/section/25/article/39629/
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