The first Young Entrepreneurs Academy program for Macon-Bibb County, and the state of Georgia, received a national award for the success of its inaugural year earlier this month, as part of the YEA! National Conference. YEA! Macon, which was launched by the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, was selected as only one of five programs to receive a YEA! Director’s Award, out of the over 100 cities in which YEA! operates in the United States and India.

The YEA! Macon program began in 2016 and, since September, has worked with 20 middle and high school students to help them start their own companies. The participants applied and were selected from area public, private and home schools based on the entrepreneurial characteristics they already exhibited, including creativity, enthusiasm, maturity and commitment.

Throughout the program, the students have learned business skills from both YEA! National’s curriculum, which is backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as real world applications from over 50 community volunteers. The business and community leaders who volunteered for the program presented, hosted field trips, mentored and even invested in the students’ companies.

Thanks to the support of local partners and volunteers, the YEA! Macon students have grown their business ideas into viable business opportunities, feasible business plans, funded business pitches and newly launched entrepreneurial ventures. From new inventions to creative services, the student companies are as diverse and unique as the community of Macon-Bibb County.

The first YEA! Macon program will culminate with two events designed to celebrate and showcase the accomplishments of the student entrepreneurs who have launched 16 new companies in the area.

The YEA! Macon Graduation will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mercer University Innovation Center. The event details for the YEA! Macon Trade Show are still being determined, as inclement weather prevented the event from coinciding with Open Streets Macon on May 21. Both events are free, and the entire community is encouraged to attend and celebrate Macon’s newest CEOs.