Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge provides hands-on experience, chance to win cash prize for students in Douglas County

Douglas County is seeking applications for the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, a competition where students pitch their business ideas. The event will be 8:30 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 7, at The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, 2920 Haskell Ave., in Lawrence.

The competition is open to students who are in grades 6 through 12 and reside in Douglas County. The event consists of preparing a written summary, giving an elevator speech and formal presentation, and setting up a trade show display. Students compete for $3,000 in prize money. The students’ work is judged by local entrepreneurs, teachers and community leaders. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24.

This will be the seventh year for the Douglas County event. During past competitions, students have pitched businesses that offer swimming lessons, resale clothing, jewelry, baked goods, pet sitting, lawn tool rental service and more. Last year, 15 students representing nine businesses competed in the challenge.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) is sponsored by Network Kansas, Douglas County, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and K-State Research and Extension. Douglas County is one of many communities across Kansas to host an event designed to give students a hands-on experience. Douglas County’s first-place winner will get the opportunity to participate in a statewide competition and earn more prize money and honors.

“The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is one of the coolest events Douglas County gets to be part of each year. I love that we can help showcase local youth who are endlessly creative and who have neat ideas to share,” said Douglas County Commissioner Shannon Reid, who has served as a judge for the event.

For more information or to register for the YEC event, visit: https://dgcoks.gov/yec