Jefferson College is partnering with Main and Mill to host “JC Jump Market,” a kid’s craft and business fair for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The event will take place from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, on Festus Main Street during the 11th annual Main and Mill Street Fest. Kids aged 6-17 are welcome to participate.
Denny Foster, co-owner of Main and Mill and Central Tap said they tried to hold an event like this during last year’s Street Fest, however, the plans fell through.
“I was looking around to try to find something that was basically entrepreneurial for kids to try to add another element to the Street Fest,” he said. “I had found like a national organization… they kind of backed out within the last like four days… and so with them backing out basically a few days (before) the festival, it kind of threw everything into our hands.”
Foster said they were able to pull together the event last year without the organization, but it was a challenge.
“Thankfully, the families and the kids had a really great experience, even though we weren’t really prepared to just throw it all together on our own,” he said.
This year, he decided to reach out to Kenny Wilson, dean of workforce and community education at Jefferson College, to see if they would be interested in partnering for an entrepreneurial event for kids.
This event will be the first step of a new program called the “Jefferson Entrepreneurial Collective.”
“This is part of what we’re calling the Jefferson Entrepreneurial Collective, which will also include some of what we’re calling the Future Founders Academy, which is going to be some classes for students (aged) 6-17 on topics about entrepreneurship and starting your own business and some of the financial stuff that you need to be able to run and grow your own business,” he said. “There will be sessions throughout the year, and this is kind of our first step into this collective, and then from there we’re hoping to get mentorship started where local businesses can mentor a young entrepreneur.”
The market received $3,000 in funding from the Festus Tourism Council which will be used for promotional items such as T-shirts for the participants and a tote bag for attendees of the market.
Cash prizes will be awarded to winners of the market. Foster said the cash prize is to help kickstart the winner’s idea into something bigger and better.
Participation for the market is free. Participants must bring their own tables and chairs.
For more information or to sign up, visit jeffco.edu/jcjumpmarket.