Author: Ronald Hustedde
Planning Unit: Community & Leadership Development
Major Program: Economic Development
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The Extension specialist designed and delivered an entrepreneurial training program for high school youth and teachers in coal dependent counties in Eastern Kentucky. This initiative was designed for youth to develop entrepreneurial opportunities around abandoned coal mine sites which can be useful for community economic development. Students worked in teams during a four month period to develop detailed business plans around these sites. Some of the entrepreneurial plans were associated with tourism while others focused on social enterprises such as an ambulance service in an isolated rural area or other ventures. The specialist was also involved in judging and providing feedback to the high school entrepreneurial teams. Five individual members from the top winning team received cash awards of $1,000 each. Five team members who won second place awards received $750 each and those who received third place received $500 each. This initiative has stimulated teachers and students to view themselves as potential entrepreneurs and to expand their creative outlets. They have also learned to see abandoned coal mine sites as economic opportunities. The initiative has set the stage for the region's high schools to view entrepreneurship as a creative learning endeavor that can open up new career possibilities for students. The specialist also led and facilitated a public webinar that focused on various dimensions of youth entrepreneurship as forms of economic development and learning.