By Scottie Brown
The Selma Times-Journal

Beginning Tuesday, youth wanting to know how to create their own business, will have access to a great program thanks to a partnership brought about by the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber, partnering with the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce’s Real Entrepreneurship through Active Learning Program, will host a 4-week program aimed at helping youth get their start in business.

Tommie Syx, the coordinator for Alabama’s Culverhosue REAL program, said the goal of Tuesday’s in July: Biz 1.0 Youth Entrepreneurship is to expose students, ages 13 through, to what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

“The primary goal is to expose rising 8th and 9th grade students to entrepreneurship and how they can create their own career path and local economic development,” Syx said.

While the REAL program is already being run on the University of Alabama’s Tuscaloosa campus, the Tuesday’s in July program in Selma will act as a model to see if the program could be successful in other cities.

Sheryl Smedley, the executive director for the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, said the program had been in the works for Selma for the last two years.

“I knew about the program, and I’ve been working with them,” Smedley said. “They got the funding for it, so they picked us. We would like to have something here for our youth to participate in.”

The program is a way for those students hoping to turn a hobby into a career to meet those who have already done just that, Smedley said.

“They’ll have the opportunity to be in a business incubator and meet people who are entrepreneurs,” Smedley said.

The students will not just see how real businesses function, but also learn how to set and achieve goals for themselves, Syx said.

“It’s important for me that students see entrepreneurship not only as owning their own business, but also a mindset for setting and achieving goals,” Syx said.

“Some may start up a company or develop product idea, but all will need to develop their personal assets and strengthen their weaknesses to maximize opportunities throughout their lives.”

While the students will learn about entrepreneurship and achieving goals, Syx said the program would teach Smedley and the volunteers how to run the program.

“This first series will also be training for Sheryl and the local volunteers who can facilitate future programs,” Syx said. “Sheryl and I hope to see it become a part of the Chamber’s summer programs. I hope to see it replicated in other areas.”

The course will span four Tuesdays, and students will pitch a business idea on the fourth Tuesday.  The 4-week program is open to only 20 participants.

“I’m glad to have the opportunity to have a partnership with the university and give this opportunity to the youth here in our community,” Smedley said.

For more information, please contact Smedley at the chamber at 875-7241.