Entrepreneurship education: Saline County business education program kicks off Thursday

Select juniors and seniors from Saline County will have the chance to learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur from county business leaders as part of the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities program, which kicks off Thursday with a social event.

The program, called Saline County CEO, offers an education in entrepreneurship by giving the students a chance to connect directly with business leaders. Over the course of the next school year, qualifying Saline County students will meet with a different local business every nine weeks for 90 minutes.

The Saline County program will have 13 students.

Saline County CEO, facilitated by Arla Wasson, hired Beth Lane to lead the students in a year-long class that will cover business concepts such as supply and demand, cost-benefit analysis, competitive advantage and opportunity recognition. Lane has over 30 years of experience in education and many years in business education, Wasson said.

Coursework also covers more abstract business concepts like innovative thinking, product development and marketing, while also teaching concrete skills like preparing an income statement, balance sheet, and income and cash flow statements.

The original mission of the CEO class is, "to prepare our youth to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute to the economic development and sustainability," of a county, and to encourage youth to stay in their counties to create their own businesses.

Saline County CEO is supported by funding from business partners, the Southern Illinois Community Foundation and student projects. Support for the program comes from school administrators, municipalities, the Chamber of Commerce, industrial companies and businesses.

Students interested in participating in the program need to start with a recommendation from the school. They must also submit a written request for admission, submit letters of recommendation and complete an entrepreneurial profile.

CEO Social Event

<p>WHO: Anyone interested the Saline County CEO program.<br />WHAT: Saline County CEO social event.<br />WHEN: Thursday, June 4 from 4 to 7 p.m.<br />WHERE: Saline County Chamber Officer at 2 E. Locust St. in Harrisburg.<br />WHY: To celebrate and learn about the Saline County “Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities” program beginning this fall.<br />RSVP: awasson@legencebank.com</p>