Since 2023, IMAGINE Berks has supported the Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy by providing scholarships to the students attending the 6-week course. This year, 37 students graduated from the program representing 9 local school districts and 1 college. Seeing the growth of the program over the last few years has encouraged more local businesses to participate in mentorship and internship opportunities for the students.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship is one of the 5 main categories for IMAGINE Berks, and this work perfectly aligns with the goals outlined in the plan. Exposure to small business professionals and what it takes to manage a small business helps prospective entrepreneurial minded students hands on experience that they otherwise would not have access to. Through the leadership of Gary Seibert, CEO and founder of the Small Business Resource Association (SBRA), scores of students have been able to pull back the curtain and explore what it means to be your own boss and learn the opportunities and challenges that entails. Through a collaborative effort between SBRA and the Berks Business Education Coalition (BBEC), executive director Terri Hill and Seibert have tripled the class size from 12 in 2022 to 37 in 2025. Leveraging BBEC and Hill’s connection with local businesses and our local school districts helps increase awareness of this opportunity.

For students who are interested, the tuition for the course is $2,500, however, through sponsorships and other investments, like the one provided by the County of Berks, many students are able to participate at low to no cost. For more information, check out https://www.eeainpa.org/.