BUSINESS BOOTCAMP SET TO LAUNCH FOR YOUTH IN NORTH FLINT
North Flint Food Market and Office of University Outreach Partner on Entrepreneur Program
(Flint, Mich.)- Business-minded youth and future entrepreneurs in north Flint will have the chance to hone their business skills with the [IN] on the Road Business Bootcamp for Young Adults which will launch this weekend. The North Flint Food Market (NFFM) has partnered with Office of University Outreach at the University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) to bring a no-cost business bootcamp to young people. The program includes monthly workshops and a lecture series designed to help youth learn how to start their own business and to understand about business cooperative models.
“We are excited to have our young people learn valuable business skills that they can use to launch their business ideas,” said Arlene Wilborn, NFFM General Manager. “Young people will also learn about cooperative business models and when they complete the program, they will have a membership in the NFFM which will open later this year.”
The program will have monthly Saturday workshops starting on Saturday, January 25 along with a Monday night lecture series held prior to the monthly Membership Growth Meetings for the NFFM starting on January 27. The program will include two cohorts with one set to finish in April 2020 and the other group will complete the program in the spring of 2021.
“[IN] on the Road uses an engaging, locally developed curriculum to teach young people the essentials of running a business from finding your big ideas and customer segment to marketing, finances and legal structures,” said Nic Custer, Assistant Program Manager with the Office of University Outreach.
The program is funded in part by Diplomat Pharmacy and the Illuminating Community Change (IC2) which is a Community-Based Crime Reduction Grant by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.
There is still an opportunity for young people ages 14-24 to join this year’s program or to be added to the 2021 cohort. Anyone interested in joining the program can visit go.umflint.edu/youthcoop to register to participate.
Work has already begun on the future site of the NFFM which will be located at 5402 Clio Rd. in Flint. The NFFM will differ from a traditional grocery story because it is owned by its members. Residents, organizations and businesses have purchased memberships as investment into the store’s development. The market will be the first food co-op in Genesee County. Work has already started at the site and full construction is slated to be finished by the end of 2020. Memberships are still available for purchase at a one-time cost of $250 for individuals and $500 for businesses and organizations.
Anyone with questions regarding the bootcamp can learn more on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NFFMKT/ or by emailing northflintfoodmarket@gmail.com.
