Green Bay, Wis.- (March 6, 2008) –

· More than 65 percent of 14- to 19-year-olds are interested in starting a business compared with about half o the general public. (Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership)

· There are approximately 25 million small businesses in the country. More than 10.5 million Americans are self-employed. (U.S. Small Business Administration)

· Small businesses provide approximately 75 percent of the new jobs added to the economy. (U.S. Small Business Administration

Consequently, Partners in Education, Small Business Council and SCORE Counselors to America’s Small Business of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce provide a unique opportunity to young entrepreneurs in the local community to experience firsthand the excitement and personal rewards to starting a new business. Together they provide Youth Business Development Grants up to $500 to enterprising young entrepreneurs (middle & high school-aged youth) from the ten area school districts who are willing to start a business this summer.

To apply for a Youth Business Development Grant, students must prepare a Mini-Business Plan (grant application), which will be evaluated by SCORE counselors. If requested, mentors from the Small Business Council or SCORE will help the youth in the development of their Business Plan and the management of the business details.

Youth Business Development Grant Applications are available through Partners in Education and are due the first Monday in April.

For more information and questions about the Youth Entrepreneur Program or Partners in Education, call Nancy Schopf, vice president – education & leadership, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, 437-8704 or 593-3413, or e-mail schopf@titletown.org.

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