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PRESS RELEASE

YOUTH PROGRAM RECEIVES GRANT 

Tunica County Community Development Coalition, Inc. can serve 25 more students in its Youth Entrepreneurship Program, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.   

“We believe Tunica County CDC Youth Entrepreneurship Program is planting the seed which will produce entrepreneurs and families of entrepreneurs in the community, said James Dunn, Executive Director. 

The funding will target students in grades 9-12 through the curriculum designed to teach at-risk youth the skills needed to make good business decisions, help them better understand how to manage money and/or credit, and prepare them to be entrepreneurs.   

“Teaching young people financial and business skills will prepare them for a better quality of life. The Community Foundation is pleased to support this kind of effort with an $8,000 grant,” said Tom Pittman, president of the Community Foundation. 

The three-level program is designed to build a pipeline of future entrepreneurs.  Level One (Youth Development Program) provides instructions for life skills, character and leadership development, employability skills, vocational and technical skill training and public speaking.  Level Two (Youth Entrepreneur Program) is for those students that have completed the Level One program.  The focus is on training to start a business.  Students must complete a business plan for their business enterprise.  Level Three (Youth Enterprise Program) is for students that have completed both Level One and Two.  The students will be responsible for operating a small business.  Using their business plan, they will identify and secure needed capital and make decisions for the business based on skills learned.  Technical assistance and support is provided by community partners with guidance from Delta State University’s Small Business Center.   

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s mission is to connect people who care with causes that matter in its eight-county service area, including Tunica County. Betty Jo Dulaney and Cedric Burnett of Tunica County serve on the Foundation’s advisory board. 

To learn more about the Community Foundation go to www.cfnm.org or email communityfoundation@cfnm.org

PICTURED:  (l to r)  On hand for the grant presentation to the Tunica County Community Development Coalition by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi are Tunica County CDC Board members Fred Steele and Betty Still, Community Foundation President Tom Pittman, Tunica County CDC Executive Director James Dunn, Community Foundation Advisory Board member Betty Jo Dulaney, Youth Program Instructor Marilyn W. Williams, and Tunica County CDC Board members Katie M. Richardson, Tabitha McCoy, Rodney McKay, Joe W. Gray, Stacy Washington.