花季传媒 Awarded $100,000 to Support Entrepreneurship Education and Training

March 3, 2021 Suzanne Seldes

FORT PIERCE, FL鈥� 花季传媒 (IRSC) has received a $100,000 Perkins grant from the Florida Department of Education鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Education and Training program to establish the 花季传媒Entrepreneurial Acceleration Revenue Network (E.A.R.N.). Project E.A.R.N. will utilize a three-pronged approach to help to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets along the Treasure Coast. First, 花季传媒will recruit youth ages 16 to 18, traditionally underrepresented in entrepreneurship to participate in a Young Entrepreneurs鈥� Boot Camp. Next, 花季传媒will recruit teachers from partnering school districts to learn how to embed entrepreneurship education into their curriculum. Finally, 花季传媒will assist entrepreneurs from its four-county service region with establishing their business and developing long-term success strategies.

花季传媒has received a Perkins grant to establish the 花季传媒Entrepreneurial Acceleration Revenue Network (E.A.R.N.).

鈥溁ḿ敬絘ims to assist entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs in establishing and growing their businesses, so that they may become permanent contributors to the overall vitality, diversity and growth of Florida鈥檚 economy,鈥� shares Dr. Prashanth Pilly, 花季传媒Dean of Business. 鈥淎dditionally, through Project E.A.R.N. 花季传媒can leverage both its faculty expertise and network of business partners to provide training to local school districts to help advance entrepreneurial objectives within career and technical education (CTE) curriculum.鈥�

The award will be used to support the following activities:

Present a Young Entrepreneurs鈥� Boot Camp (March 15-26)鈥擜t IRSC鈥檚 Young Entrepreneurs鈥� Boot Camp students ages 16 to 18 will gain firsthand knowledge in leadership and creating a new business. Participants will explore careers, experience a simulated work environment and receive mentorship from industry leaders.

Offer Advanced Entrepreneurship Certification鈥擭ew and current 花季传媒students may now enhance their entrepreneurial mindset and expand their entrepreneurial capabilities through a new Advanced Entrepreneurship Certification. The program teaches the fundamentals of starting and operating a business venture while presenting entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

Launch Related Workshops and Events鈥擜n E.A.R.N. Speaker Series, an E.A.R.N. Educators鈥� Training program, and an IRSC Entrepreneurs鈥� Pitch Fair will all occur in 2021.

The project is made possible by Florida鈥檚 Perkins V State Plan, which commits to creating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem through career and technical education. Business equity is the second largest source of wealth behind home equity, and for special populations, self-employment and the ability to effectively create value contributes to Florida鈥檚 greater economic security. In short, becoming an entrepreneur is a viable path to improving Florida鈥檚 economic and social mobility rates.

Through Project E.A.R.N., 花季传媒intends to establish a pipeline of entrepreneurial-minded leaders. For more information, about Project E.A.R.N., contact Master Instructor, Nicholas Brown, at the 花季传媒School of Business, at nbrown@irsc.edu or 772-462-7659.