Area youth take part in NICC “Build Your Own Business” Summer Camp ...

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center held a “Build Your Own Business” Summer Camp July 28-29 for students entering fourth through sixth grades this fall. This two-day camp was a “Shark Tank”-style experience (based on the “Shark Tank” television series) where students learned basic business concepts and vocabulary, created a business plan, discussed customer service and created their own logo and business cards. Students listened to presentations from local businesses including Indi-Com Electric & Surveillance, WW Homestead Dairy and Decker Delish. The students concluded camp by presenting their business ideas to area business leaders who represented the “sharks” that provided feedback on the business ideas. Build Your Own Business Camp is sponsored by Northeast Iowa Community College, Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism and the Allamakee County Community Foundation.

Pictured above are the camp’s participating youth with the area business leader “sharks”. Those “sharks” included: Back row - left to right: Mary Jo Goodman of FreedomBank, Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development and Brenda Hackman of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative. The business ideas pitched by the camp participants included such names as Extend-a-Hook, No Light, Help With Care, Scrub Tub, Scootboard and Grammar by Indra. Photo courtesy of NICC Waukon Center.