The Rhinebeck Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to bring the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, YEA! to the Rhinebeck area!

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is  an innovative program that guides students through the process of starting their own real business.  We will be partnering with the Rhinebeck Central School District with classes being held at the Rhinebeck High School.

With great anticipation, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy is now accepting student nominations for the Class of 2012-2013. Nominated students should have a strong work ethic and should demonstrate high levels of effort on a consistent basis.   Although prior experience in business is not required, nominees should have a strong interest in business and/or starting their own company or social movement.

About the Young Entrepreneurs Academy
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is a groundbreaking educational program that takes students in grades six through twelve through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. Students work in close cooperation with local leaders of industry, community members, and educators to develop ideas and objectives, write business plans, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies, and develop their brand identity and much more! By the end of the class, students own and operate fully functioning businesses that can be carried on after graduation. Students learn to make a job--not just take a job! YEA!’s direct mission is to help students embrace their passion, energy, creativity and talents, launch a venture, and view entrepreneurship as synonymous with success and freedom. 

In 2008, YEA! “spun-off” from the University of Rochester, where it was formed in 2004 with support from the Kauffman Foundation, to create its own not-for-profit corporation, YEA! Inc., which is currently launching sites in colleges, universities and high schools across the country to provide comprehensive, exciting entrepreneurship education, leadership development and innovation training to youth between the ages of 11 and 18 years old in the United States thereby making the program available to students at a variety of geographical regions, and providing them with skills they need to succeed in the 21st Century. For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, please call the Chamber office, 845-876-5904, email info@rhinebeckchamber.com or visit www.yeausa.org.

Thank you to our Premier Sponsors:

Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union

John G. Ullman & Associates, Inc.

Kirchhoff-Consigli Construction Management, Inc.

Tuition Sponsors:

College Planning Connections, LLC
Oblong Books & Music