Funds available to communities interested in fueling student entrepreneurship

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Startup funds are available through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to communities interested in bringing the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), an innovative national educational program, to the area.

YEA! works to transform middle and high school students into confident entrepreneurs. In its 30-week entrepreneurship class, students generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their own, legally-registered companies.

Applications from local chambers of commerce that want to start a YEA! program are being accepted at USChamberFoundation.org/YEA now through May 30.

Thirty chambers will be selected to receive up to $2,500 in startup funds, thanks to generous support from Sam’s Club. 

Currently 112 communities in 38 states host YEA! classes.

• 2,298 YEA! students nationwide have launched more than 1,700 real businesses in America.
• 19 percent of YEA! students start second businesses.
• 42 percent of students who attend YEA! on a college or university campus matriculate there.
• 100 percent of students enrolled in YEA! graduate high school on time.
• 99 percent of YEA! students choose to pursue higher education.
• 49 percent of YEA! students are female.
• 56 percent of YEA! students are under-represented minorities.