Y-STEP Program Highlights:

• targets youth who are motivated, passionate, and realistic about starting their own business and who have a reasonable expectation of achieving startup within a 52-week period;
• requires that participants sign a contract and dedicate a minimum of 30 hours per week to the program;
• is free of charge, and provides all required workshop materials and resources; it also provides a small stipend to offset living expenses for the duration of the program;
• offers up to three workshops per week for the initial sixteen weeks, forcusing on key entrepreneurial skills, including research, problem-solving, planning, and financial management;
• assists participants in identifying and securing a mentor;
• assists participants in developing a full and complete business plan;
• assists participants in sourcing startup capital, if required;
• is coordinated and administered by Lang and Ackroyd Productions, Inc., and delivered by senior facilitator, John Ekins, along with supporting personnel;
• operates in cooperation with Victoria County Career Services, which maintains a file on each participant.