Chambers of Commerce Receive Funding from Sam’s Club & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to Launch Youth Entrepreneurship Program

Thirteen Chambers of Commerce across the U.S. received $5,000 each in startup funds to launch the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) in new communities. The donation--$2,500 from Sam’s Club, matched by $2,500 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF)—opens doors for students across the country ages 11 to 18 to go through the process of starting and launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year.

YEA! is an innovative after-school educational program that works to transform middle and high school students into confident entrepreneurs. By the end of the 30-week class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried on after their graduation from the program.

Sam’s Club, USCCF and YEA! joined forces earlier this year to fuel growth and support for youth entrepreneurship and the future of small business in more than 100 U.S. communities. As a result of the collaboration, 13 new YEA! chapters will launch this year with the support of local Chambers of Commerce and the business community.

Funding provides the opportunity to launch an estimated 300 new student-run businesses and provide hands on, experiential learning for students in the YEA! program, spearheaded by the following funding recipients:

• Athens Chamber of Commerce, Athens, Texas
• Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, Alexander City, Alabama
• Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, Loxahachee, Florida
• Hannibal Chamber of Commerce, Hannibal, Missouri
• Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Lakeland, Florida
• Montrose Chamber of Commerce, Montrose, Colorado
• National Association of Women Business Owners Detroit & Detroit Chamber of Commerce, Detroit, Michigan
• Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Paso Robles, California
• Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, Mansfield, Ohio
• Templeton Chamber of Commerce, Templeton, California
• Union County Economic Development Partnership, Marysville, Ohio
• Harford County Chamber of Commerce, Bel Air, Maryland
• Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa, Florida

“Sam’s Club has helped small businesses startup and succeed since we opened 32 years ago. We are thrilled to help the Young Entrepreneurs Academy deliver entrepreneurial education to young people in the communities we serve,” said Rosalind Brewer, CEO and President of Sam’s Club.

“The U.S. Chamber Foundation is delighted to team up with YEA! and Sam’s Club, and we look forward to together inspiring young people through the spirit of the free enterprise system,” said Carolyn Cawley, managing director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “By offering support for these educational programs, we hope to emphasize what a powerful tool entrepreneurship can be.”

YEA! was developed in 2004 at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, with support from the Kauffman Foundation. YEA! now receives national support from the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Sam’s Club, to help promote the spirit of enterprise and build the next generation of business leaders in communities all across the country.

“YEA! will help Chambers of Commerce to fulfill their goals of supporting small business development in their communities by training their future leaders and helping them to establish strong, lasting relationships with their hometown business communities,” says Gayle Jagel, Founder & CEO, YEA!. “This program will enhance business education for students and provide a unique, challenging and fulfilling experience for all participants.”

During the 30-week commitment, students will brainstorm and form their business ideas, make pitches to investors for startup funding, file their DBAs, and launch their own businesses or social movements. Mentors and local entrepreneurs across a variety of industries, such as graphic design, web development, law, accounting, retail, manufacturing, technology and more are invited to support the students throughout the hands-on curriculum as mentors, field trip hosts or guest lecturers.

Student applications are now being accepted. For more information visit yeausa.org, contact info@yeausa.org or call 585-272-3535.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a 501(C) 3 offering groundbreaking year-long classes that teach middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors for startup funds, and launch and run their own, fully formed companies and social movements. The project-based program empowers students to take charge of their futures.

Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation, YEA! today serves thousands of students nationwide. In 2011, the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation became a national sponsor and partner of the Academy to help celebrate the spirit of enterprise among today's youth and tomorrow's future leaders.

YEA! bridges the business and educational communities to fulfill its mission of teaching more students how to make a job, not just take a job. YEA! is made possible by The Kauffman Foundation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the E. Philip Saunders Foundation. For more information, visit yeausa.org.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness and educating the public on how the free enterprise system improves society and the economy.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

About Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering savings and benefits to millions of members in 653 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Sam’s Club offers affordable access to innovative benefits for families and small business owners, including travel, payroll and HR services, online marketing and legal solutions, cash rewards and more. To learn more about saving time and money with Sam’s Club, visit SamsClub.com/benefits.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150924005298/en/