![](https://www.loudounchamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/yea-loudoun.jpeg)
Loudoun Young Entrepreneurs Academy returns for second year
Contact: K.C. Repage
O (571) 209-9033
krepage@loudounchamber.org
Loudoun Young Entrepreneurs Academy returns to help local middle and high school students create and launch their own businesses
Loudoun Chamber, Loudoun Economic Development Authority partner on YEA! Loudoun.
Lansdowne, VA – The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and Loudoun Economic Development Authority have launched the second year of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a youth entrepreneurship program that matches local business leaders with middle and high school aged students to help them develop and launch their own business or nonprofit.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a proven national program that partners with more than 100 local Chambers of Commerce in 39 states to provide hands on entrepreneurial training to students between grades 6 through 12.
“Entrepreneurial skills not only help someone launch a successful business, they also translate to any course of study or career path. Whether they launch a new business or social profit organization as a student or even later in life, our YEA studentswill gain the knowledge and experience that will set them on a path toward success no matter what they choose to do with their lives,” said Loudoun Chamber President Tony Howard.
“In my high school days, entrepreneurship was either mowing lawns or throwing newspapers. Today, the possibilities of the Internet coupled with the buying power of teens has produced limitless opportunities for our Loudoun youth to start real businesses,” said Brian Chavis, Chairman, Loudoun Economic Development Authority. “The EDA is very pleased to partner with the Chamber to create this exciting new program that will help produce a new generation of entrepreneurs here in Loudoun County.”
The YEA! Loudoun program first launched in 2016. This year’s class consists of 24 students ages 12 to 18, from schools throughout Loudoun County. Students will learn how to conceive and develop their business plans, how to pitch their business to investors and to market their product or service. The class concludes in May of 2018.
YEA! was developed at the University of Rochester in 2004, with the support from the Kauffman Foundation. In that time, YEA! has graduated more than 4,500 students who have started more than 3,000 businesses and social movements!
The Loudoun Young Entrepreneurs Academy is supported by these businesses and foundations. Platinum Sponsors: Claude Moore Foundation, Mclean Insurance, Unanet. Investor Panel Sponsor: SeKON. Scholarship Sponsors: Backflow Technology, LLC, Integrus Holdings, Inc, and REHAU. CEO Round table sponsor: Successful Culture and Graduation sponsor: K2M.
For more information, visit https://www.loudounchamber.org/YEA or contact K.C. Repage at krepage@loudounchamber.org.
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