Advertisement. Advertise with us

Teenagers Turn Ideas Into Profit

By LIBBY CUDMORE • HOMETOWN ONEONTA

Edition of Friday, Dec. 26, 2014

It’s always been Laine Johnson’s dream to own her own bakery. “I love to bake pastries and macaroons,” she said.
And now, even though she’s just 13, she’s on her way to making that dream come true.

Johnson is one of eight students countywide participating in the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy – YEA! – a national program which aims to connect students to the business community.

“It’s a nice opportunity for students to use their talents and the business community to turn their big ideas into an actual business,” said chamber President Barbara Ann Heegan. “It will get the students thinking like CEOs.”

During the four-month program, students will meet weekly at Hartwick College with local business owners, attorneys, accountants and investors, learning how to start fully formed companies. “We’re going to learn a lot about what it takes to run a business,” said Harmon.

Students will set up a business plan, then work with the business community to market and execute their ideas. Chobani is one of the sponsors, and Dawn Rivers of the Otsego County IDA will be the first speaker when classes begin on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

And it’s not just businesses – students can also put their project energy towards creating social movements. “One student in Rochester had lost some friends in a car accident where they had been texting while driving, so he developed a ‘Don’t Text and Drive’ campaign,” said Heegan.

Among the ideas students are pitching are a bakery, a restaurant and an agriculture business, as well as a campaign to help people eat healthier with the start of a community garden.

“It’s important for the community to invest in their young people,” said Heegan. “By giving them the opportunities to start their own businesses, it really drives home the point about Thinking Local First.”

Posted

Related Articles

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO: 05-24-23

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 Otsego County Chamber Awards Dinner AWARDS DINNER—5:30 p.m. The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce invites the community to celebrate this year’s award winners: Geoffrey Doyle, Eugene Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen of the Year; Casella Waste Systems, Business of the Year Award; Creekside Industries, Breakthrough Award; Connie Herzig, Volunteer of the Year; and Dan Buttermann, Leadership Otsego Distinguished Alumnus. Held at the Alumni Field House, SUNY Oneonta. (607) 432-4500 or visit members.otsegocc.com/events/details/2023-annual-spring-awards-dinner-blooming-with-brilliance-1079 BLOOD DRIVE—9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Save up to three lives with the American Red Cross. St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown.…

Leaders Already Looking Ahead

Iron String Press hears from Otsego County's movers and shakers about what lies ahead for their organizations in the coming months.…

County Chamber celebrates businesses, leaders with 2021 prizes

County Chamber celebrates businesses, leaders with 2021 prizes The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce this week named Five-Star Subaru’s Ben Guenther as its Eugene A. Bettiol, Jr., Distinguished Person of the Year as part of its year-end award ceremony. Chamber officials stopped by Five-Star and other award winners on December 21 and 22 in surprise visits to present framed certificates to this year’s honorees. The Chamber’s Board of Directors and local citizens met December 1 to wade through multiple nominations in each category, with the Board choosing winners on December 15. Along with Mr. Guenther, the Chamber presented these awards:…

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.