COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOWARD COUNTY SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
CEO Program receives $40,000 in grant funding from Community Foundation
October 4, 2013 — The Community Foundation of Howard County has awarded $40,000 in grant funding to the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance and Inventrek for the CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) Program.
The CEO Program enables high school students to become self-reliant, enterprising individuals who will become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute to the future economic development of the community.
"This is the type of program that creates an entrepreneurial culture that is so critical to a community’s economic development," said Hilda Burns, president of the Community Foundation. "We talk about the need for more local businesses and jobs. This program is designed to inspire students to create a business model and strategy that creates sales and profits. It also encourages young people to return to our community to start businesses. If we expect entrepreneurial thinkers to locate in our community, we need to help provide an environment that promotes an enterprising spirit."
"On behalf of the many business leaders and educators who are building the CEO program for our community, we are thrilled for the support the Community Foundation of Howard County has committed to seed this important initiative," said Jan Hendrix, director of Inventrek. "The CEO program will work to provide tools and guidance that will prepare our enterprising and innovative youth to recognize opportunities, take risks, manage results, and learn from outcomes. Our ability to remain competitive in the future will depend on the entrepreneurial thinker."
The program requires collaboration from the education and business sectors. Juniors and seniors are eligible to participate in the program and are selected during an application process. Classes meet daily and students visit area businesses and learn from guest speakers. Each student has the opportunity to start their own business and participate in an annual trade show to showcase their business.
The Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc. was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. The Foundation seeks to serve donors and make grants to benefit the citizens of Howard County. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact Hilda Burns at 765-454-7298 or hilda@cfhoward.org. The Web site www.cfhoward.orgcontains information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.
