Roanoke Valley Student Small Business Academy

1. Roanoke Valley Student Small Business Academy A New Program of theBusiness Education Committee

2. Assets and Needs • Every student in the Roanoke Valley has leadership potential • Approximately 30% of students in the Roanoke Valley are not graduating from high school in four years • A report by the Aspen Institute suggests that nationally, many of the factors leading students to drop out are related to the school curriculum not being relevant to student interests • Not all students are leaving high school adequately prepared for college and the workforce • A business owner in Roanoke Rapids told me that the #1 area for growth in his workforce is problem-solving skills • Organizations like the Chamber and many others are uniquely positioned to help

3. Small Business Academy Goals • Empower high school students in the Roanoke Valley with the entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary to start small businesses in their communities and become leaders in our local workforce • Improve promotion and graduation rates, instill the importance of post-secondary education, and foster self-esteem • Increase the economic vitality of the Roanoke Valley region

4. Program Overview Selected “Aspiring Entrepreneurs” will meet in 15 after-school sessions held once a week for 90 minutes. Facilitators, trained by NC REAL and the HCC Small Business Center, will deliver a hands-on curriculum in conjunction with local business leaders, helping students develop the knowledge, skills, mindsets, and tangible products necessary to start their own businesses. Students will create business plans and enter them in a “business plan competition” at the end of the semester. Each student will have the opportunity to earn approximately $250 in seed money to start their business.

5. Program Timeline • September-November 2011 • Solidify partnership with Weldon High School • Recruit and train two facilitators (one teacher, one business leader) in partnership with NC REAL and HCC SBC • Recruit and select ten student participants • Recruit guest teachers • December 2011 • Conduct orientation for selected students and parents/guardians

6. Program Timeline, cont’d • January-May 2012 • Students participate in 15 after-school sessions and two field trips conducted by trained facilitators and guest teachers from the local business community • May 2012 • Conduct small business plan competition and award seed money ($250/student) and/or CADA funding • Conduct year-end celebration for students, facilitators, volunteers, and families

7. Program Budget: $8000

8. $8000: A Small Price to pay to UNLEASH LEADERSHIP http://ten9eight.com/downloads/entrepreneur.mov

9. Lessons Learned: Small Business Academy Design • Creating a program from scratch – even one that seems simple – is more complex than I anticipated • Costs add up quickly • HOW you collaborate matters • Many small initiatives can lead to big results

10. Lessons Learned: The Roanoke Valley Community • Ruby Gerald, Coordinator, WorkFirst • Cathy Scott, Director, Halifax County Economic Development • Dr. Ervin Griffin, President, Halifax Community College • Michael Felt, Director, Halifax Dept. of Social Services • Debbie Hardy & Dr. Donna Hunter, Members, Halifax County School Board • MagdaBaligh, Director, Halifax-Warren Smart Start • Halifax County Criminal Court (Judge Brenda Branch) • Quick stops at the Union Mission & Systems of Care • Halifax Rep. Angela Bryant, General Assembly & Visions, Inc. • Community members from Littleton, Scotland Neck, and Hollister

11. Questions and Thanks!