Young entrepreneurs shine at competition
Students from Belleview High take top honors in 11th annual Youth Business Plan Competition.
From left, Evelyn Reyes, CEP vice president Business Creation, with Belleview High School students Hailey Shannon, Cadance Martin and Chloe Davis, and Freddie Morris, CEP director of Entrepreneurship Services, with the first-place check for $4,500. [Photo courtesy CEP]
The 11th Annual Youth Business Plan Competition, held April 3 at the Power Plant Business Incubator and organized by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP), provided an opportunity for students to pitch innovative business ideas to a panel of judges and potential investors.
Finalists from North Marion High School, Vanguard High School, Ocali Charter High School, West Port High School and Belleview High School presented their business plans in front of an audience that included business leaders, investors and community members.
The winners were:
• First place – You Leave, We Feed! from Belleview High School. This business offers specialized animal care for horses, cattle and small pets when owners are away, ensuring peace of mind for Marion County’s livestock owners.
• Second place – Sweet Sensory Fidgets and Apparel from Ocali Charter High School. This business provides customizable sensory solutions and stylish apparel for neurodivergent children, blending functionality with fashion.
• Third place – Axis Computer Repairs and Modifications, LLC from North Marion High School. This business focuses on tech solutions, specializing in computer repairs and custom modifications for gamers and tech enthusiasts.
“It’s been an honor to chair this event and witness the incredible entrepreneurial spirit of Marion County’s youth,” said Freddie Morris, director of Entrepreneurship Services at the CEP, in the news release. “Seeing these students put their ideas into action demonstrates the future of business leadership right here in our community.”
To learn more, go to ocalacep.com
Riccardo Minimi, a student at North Marion High School, presents a business plan for Axis Computer Repairs & Modifications LLC. [Photo courtesy CEP]
Support community journalism
The first goal of the Ocala Gazette is to deliver trustworthy local journalism so corruption, misinformation and abuse are not hidden from the public or unchallenged.
