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Wood County student part of Goal Miners project

Nonprofit mentors students to start business

Photo by Corey Zinn Josie Augenstein of Parkersburg, center, works with two other participants on deciding on an imaginary business during orientation at the Goal Miners pilot project in Charleston.

CHARLESTON — On March 3, Create West Virginia, a nonprofit that fosters a passion for innovation, education and entrepreneurship, launched its Goal Miners pilot project.

The organization has offered West Virginia students from several counties the opportunity to collaborate as a team and develop a business with the guidance of local business owners and entrepreneurs.

Participating from Wood County is Josie Augenstein, a fifth-grade student at Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School. The daughter of Mark and Erin Augenstein of Parkersburg, Josie dances with Schrader Youth Ballet, is a member of Mountain Rhythm Cloggers and studies guitar with Bob Coddington.

“I’m excited to see all of our unique talents work together to build a business,” Josie said.

Students applied with a 500-1,000 word essay about starting a fictitious business. There are nine students in the program, ages 11-14, and they will meet several times a month at the West Virginia State University Economic Development Center (home of Create West Virginia) for mentorship in creating and building a business before starting their actual business and running it throughout the summer.

In their first meeting, they elected a president, treasurer and secretary of their company. At the conclusion of the summer, participants will have the option of cashing out or continuing to run their business with continued mentorship.

Create West Virginia’s mission is in fostering entrepreneurship in the Mountain State. This is the inaugural offering of this project.

“The program isn’t far from our work in the past, but there’s still something really unique about it,” said Corey Zinn, executive director of Create WV.

“To us, funding creative kids from different schools and grades to collaborate isn’t half of it. What matters is we are treating kids like adults and putting them in charge. West Virginia doesn’t give young people enough credit, and this holds our economy back,” Zinn said.

Goal Miner participants will receive $900 collective seed money to start their business, thanks to support from sponsorships and donations. Each Goal Miner will attend five cross-generational entrepreneurial workshops.

Create WV’s Workn’ Title Workshop sessions will offer guidance from experienced mentors, and allow the young entrepreneurs to brainstorm, strategize, and collaborate with peers of all ages, Zinn said.

“I’m just as excited to see what the experienced business owners learn from the kids as I am to see what the kids learn from them. I’ve already learned a ton. They’re brilliant,” Zinn said.

Once this workshop series ends, the Goal Miners will continue to meet and work on their business until August, Zinn said. If they make a profit, they will have an opportunity to receive match funding, a year of free business consulting, and the assistance needed to operate the start-up on their own.

Workn’ Title Workshop sessions will be open to the public for $20 a session or $80 for the whole series. You may apply for a free scholarship. To register or donate, visit createwv.org/workin-title-workshops.

More information on the program at createwv.org/goal-miners.

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