Launch Youth Entrepreneurship

Bringing Youth and Entrepreneurship Together

The Launch seeks to empower youth by educating and engaging them in entrepreneurship, enriching alternatives to risk behavior, and community development through the preparation and launch of summer business(es) and risk-based learning. During the school year, weekly evening meetings, community service opportunities, jobshadowing and skill development workshops with local businesses help youth entrepreneurs prepare and plan for a summer business that also provides paid employment. This is a great opportunity for 14 to 18-year-olds to connect with their community, with local business owners, and with skills and experiences for their future. This project is supported by the Common Man Family of Restaurants, the NH Workforce Opportunity Council and the NH Division of Public Health Service, Bureau of Alcohol and other Drug Prevention.

The Launch is a youth-driven venture aimed at building businesses that promote healthy communities, youth and families. The mission of the program is to empower youth by educating and engaging them in entrepreneurship, enriching alternatives to risk behavior, and community development through the preparation and launch of summer businesses and work-based learning. The Launch program began in the summer of 2005 with a breakfast cafe located at the Common Man Inn in Plymouth by creating a small menu of hot food items, a name and logo and simple marketing to guests at the Inn. The "Rise & Shine Cafe" became a bustling enterprise under their stewardship and served an average of 30+ breakfasts a day through the summer. In the summer of 2007,

The Launch expanded to include Frosty Scoops, an ice cream sales venture on the property of the Common Man Inn. The school-year program involves weekly evening meetings held at the Pemi Youth Center. The curriculum includes leadership development, job-shadowing, and pre-employment skill development workshops with local businesses. The launch provides valuable opportunities for teens to connect with their community, with local business owners, and with skills and experiences for successful futures.

Teens ages 14-18 interested in the Launch should call 603-536-9793 for more information. Support of this program is provided by the New Hampshire Electric Co-Op Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Walmart and the Common Man Family of Restaurants.  Alex Ray, proprietor of the Common Man Family of Restaurants is CADY's major corporate partner in this ongoing venture.

Empowering youth is good business.