Young entrepreneurs with great ideas and the gumption needed to implement them are invited to participate in this fall’s Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) offered by the Small Business Development Center at College of the Canyons.

Targeting young people between the ages of 14 and 27, YEP offers business consulting and business training programs delivered through a variety of outreach and delivery methods, including websites, blogs, social networking sites, virtual reality games, youth-oriented trainers and business simulation products.

YEP provides participants the chance to hone their entrepreneurial skills by working alongside seasoned professionals at workshops and other business consulting functions.  Participants will also have the opportunity visit local businesses and experience first hand what other young entrepreneurs are doing in the real world.

The program’s goal is to guide and encourage young people to consider careers in self-employment and small business ownership, along with developing management and problem solving skills that will assist them in any future career path.

“Over the course of the semester there will be 19 interactive workshops held at a variety of locations throughout the Santa Clarita, Antelope and San Fernando Valleys,” said Steve Tannehill, Executive Director of the SBDC. “These workshops will be focused on a variety of entrepreneurial topics and provide young entrepreneurs with invaluable instruction to help them in their burgeoning careers.”

This year, YEP program participants will also have the opportunity to compete in a statewide business plan contest. On Wednesday, Dec. 5, the SBDC will host a local business plan contest inside the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center.

Local winners will be awarded cash prizes and then be entered into a statewide competition offering up to an additional $10,000.

The YEP program is sponsored by the Business & Entrepreneurship Center hosted by Cuesta College and the California Community College’s Economic and Workforce Development program.

For more information about the SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons or the fall 2012 Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP), please contact the SBDC at (661) 362-5900 or sbdc@canyons.edu or visit www.cocsbdc.org.