Entrepreneurial competition planned
Local economies thrive on creative individuals who have a passion for what they do and an entrepreneurial spirit. They want to be part of a community, provide living wage jobs, and invest in the future of the area in which they live.
I was excited to learn earlier last week that Brownsville Area High School is hosting a countywide entrepreneurial competition for high school students enrolled in business classes. Students from Brownsville, Albert Gallatin and Uniontown Area school districts will compete in the competition scheduled for the spring of 2014.
The event, sponsored by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, Fay-Penn, and the Pittsburgh-based Entrepreneuring Youth-Igniting Possibilities program, is designed around a two-minute “elevator speech” of a business plan. A student (or in some cases a two-person team of students) must design a two-minute presentation of an innovative product or service. This presentation is a judged event that will capture the attention of the audience (in this case a potential investor) and provide enough detail to make them want more.
Fostering this creativity in our students is key for the future of small business in Fayette County, and with several business incubators slated to pop up in the near future, now is a great time to start thinking about business trends and the direction that spending is taking.
Did you know that the last indoor mall built in the United States was in 2006? That’s eight years ago. And while big box and chain stores and restaurants offer certain advantages to consumers, many studies have shown that consumers are becoming more conscious about the items they purchase and the foods they eat. Additionally, they are truly beginning to understand the value of buying locally — $68 of every $100 spent stays right here in our communities when compared to $43.
We need to make sure that today’s students are ready to fill tomorrow’s downtown storefronts. Fay-Penn also understands the importance of developing a strong workforce as a critical element in the long-term economic success of our region. Working with the Fayette Business Education Partnership through the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Fay-Penn’s Workforce Development initiative is identifying key components needed to prepare these students and local businesses for tomorrow.
If you are interested in learning more about entrepreneurial opportunities and Fay-Penn’s Workforce Development initiative, contact me or Workforce Development Specialist Thomas Cramer at 724-437-7913.