MARTIN COUNTY — Officials are in the final push to begin a CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program similar to the one in Daviess County.
A fivemember organization steering committee isworking on get t ing the program started.
“Martin County Alliance is part of the steering committee to get this program off the ground. We have partnered with leaders from the school community and business leaders,” said Executive Director for the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth Jessica Potts. “There is a phase one and a phase two to this. The first is to raise $35,000 for the marketing, the website and the curriculum. We have raised that.”
The next move by the committee is to raise additional money to keep the program in operation for three years.
“We currently have 12 of our 35 investors needed that have pledged $1,000 each for the next three years,” said Potts. ‘We are required to have three year commitments so that once this program begins it will be in place for three years.”
The program would be nearly identical to the CEO program in Daviess County that has been a success for more than a decade.
“CEO in Daviess County is a huge success,” said Potts. “We have had Joe Cummings come over and speak to our steering committee and businesses and local leaders about it. It has been in place for eleven years in Daviess County and I am amazed at how successful it has been.”
The Martin County Alliance, the schools and a couple of other business organizations make up the steering committee. Potts says that the more the community hears about the program to teach kids about business the better the response.
“People are excited about it. They are still learning about what it is, but once they hear us talk about it, they are all about it,” she said. “After we make a presentation people say this is a no brainer. This is something we need in our community.”
The CEO program exposes high school students to businesses that are already established in the community and in turn encourages those students to think about creating their own companies.
“There is more opportunity in our area than most people realize, especially with Crane in our back yard,” said Potts. “Martin County has a population that is decreasing and we look to attract new. This will help attract the people we are raising here. This can help the kids from here realize the opportunities they have here. That is what CEO does.”
People wanting to get involved in the new Martin County CEO program or wishing to make a donation can do so. The Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth has agreed to be the fiscal sponsor to form CEO. People can call Martin County Alliance at 812-295-4800 and ask for a pledge form. Or they can email martinalliance@martinalliance. org. Officials say they hope to have the funding commitments in place in time to start the first Martin CEO class in August 2024.
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