Have an Idea for a Business? Come to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Info Night

The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and University of Michigan-Dearborn will host a Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) information night Sept. 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the chamber to inform interested students in grades 6-12 and their families about a new opportunity.

YEA is a yearlong program that guides middle and high school students in launching and running their own businesses.

Attendees will learn about the structure, curriculum and application process for the program. Business leaders can learn how to get involved with YEA as a mentor, guest lecturer, or how to join  the “investor” panel.

As a YEA participant, students will work closely with local business leaders to cultivate and research business ideas, write a business plan, pitch their plan to a panel of investors, obtain funding, develop their brand, participate in a trade show at the end of the year, and launch their enterprise.

"We are so excited to participate in the national movement of making experiential entrepreneurship education available to youth all across our country,” said Jackie Lovejoy, president of the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce. “This is how, as a society and as a nation, we’re ultimately going to change the world.”

YEA brochures and applications will be available at the event. The application deadline for the YEA class of 2014 has been extended to Oct. 4.

For more information, call 313-584-6100, or e-mail prichard@dearbornareachamber.org.