Eleven new businesses, all developed by local young entrepreneurs, are coming to Penn Yan over the next few weeks. They will offer a wide variety of services, from boarding dairy heifers to items crafted from duct tape.
The students are part of a new program offered at Penn Yan Academy - The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
Students who participate in YEA work their way through the process to establish a business enterprise or social movement, with the guidance of a mentor from the local business community, and funding from area sponsors.
The students went to the Yates County Clerk’s office last week to file their business name.
Among the DBA (Doing Business As) forms filed last week were:
Candles of Courage, Brendaya Parson’s plan to help cancer patients pay for treatment through the sale of candles.
Another Butter, Kelsey Broome’s business that will specialize in colored and shaped homemade butters.
The White Pages, Emily White’s cookbook of family recipes.
A Keuka Carrier, Tyler Stokoe’s and Jesse Cramer’s business selling firewood, ice cream, food and drinks from a boat on Keuka Lake next summer.
Finger Lakes Calendars, a web page that will be created and managed by Brooke Wickham andBrittney Griffin. They will work with the Keuka Lake Wine Trail and Yates Chamber of Commerce to consolidate a directory of wineries, restaurants and retailers to promote events and products. The site will be supported by paid advertising.
Duct Tape Products, Allissa Hand’s idea to create and sell all kinds of items, such as wallets, bows, firewood carriers, gardening aprons, made from duct tape.
Organic Heifer Boarding - Elizabeth Martin will board up to 30 dairy heifers on her family’s organic farm.
A2 Goods and Grub, Adam Trombley and Adam Stork’s used sporting goods shop.
Under Pressure, a power washing business that will be operated by Allison Smith and Eric Jameson.
Excalibur Tracking, Robert Galusha’s idea for a tracking device for arrows used in bow hunting.
And finally, Allie Perl’s business, which is yet to be named. She plans to establish an interactive website for the Penn Yan community, where users can post information about events such as garage sales, along with business reviews and other locally-driven information. The name she had planned on using — Penn Yan Express — is too similar to another business that’s registered in Yates County.
YEA! Coordinator Sharlene Briggs says the students will continue meeting with their mentors weekly to fine tune their business plans before the Christmas break. Speakers who will be making presentations to the students include an accountant and Tom Wahl Jr., who will speak about marketing.
The elective course at Penn Yan Academy is part of a program created at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation. Penn Yan Academy and Dundee Central School are among a dozen Finger Lakes and Western New York Schools participating in the program.
