The public is invited to the Fourth Annual Barton County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on March 6 and the the Sixth annual Pawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on March 7.
Barton County YEC
Great Bend Economic Development Communications Director Lee Ann June noted Barton County’s fourth annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is live at noon on Wednesday at the Great Bend Events Center, located at 3111 10th St. The competition for Barton County students grades 7-12 is brought to the community through Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. The Barton YEC was created to challenge youth, encourage the business community to partner with and mentor younger generations, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit.
This event is also made possible by a partnership with NetWork Kansas.
NetWork Kansas holds regional and state Youth Entrepreneurship Challenges as part of its mission in developing entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout Kansas Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce partner in this competition as both organizations are tasked with strengthening the area’s workforce for the business community, and in this case, that means nurturing the next generation’s entrepreneurs.
The YEC includes a live tradeshow. Students and judges will have lunch together to break the ice, and then competitors will present their formal four-minute presentations to the judges at noon.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event to cheer on the student competitors and show their support for the next generation of business ideas. Winners will be announced at approximately 2 p.m. There is $2,500 in prize money to be divided among the top competitors. Third place will receive $500, second place will receive $750, and first place will receive $1,000 and the opportunity to continue onto the state-level competition. Audience members will have a chance to vote for their favorite and award the People’s Choice and $250 to one competitor.
Pawnee County YEC
The annual Pawnee County YEC is sponsored by the Pawnee County Economic Development Commission. All students and young entrepreneuers in grades 7-12 in Pawnee County are invited and encouraged to participate.
The judging panel is ready to hear those ideas at the Pawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on March 7.
At Pawnee County YEC, students will be judged on their business idea, executive summary and formal presentation (not exceeding four minutes) with slides.
The top three businesses will win cash prizes totaling $1,000, with $500 for first place, $300 for second place, $200 for third place and $200 for the tradeshow winner.
Students can compete as individuals or as a group.
Business ideas can be a real dream, already existing, or completely hypothetical.
Competition will be located inside the Chamber of Commerce’s Jordaan Room, 502 Broadway, Larned.
Tradeshow begins at 9:30 a.m. in conjunction with the Chamber Coffee Hour.
Presentations will tentatively begin at 10:30 a.m.
