Prima Civitas Foundation Announces 2011 IGNITE Youth Entrepreneur Business Plan Competition Winners

Tamara Ley, Frankenmuth High School Teacher; Annie Munson, second place High School "Service" Winner from Frankenmuth; and Holly Hetzner, MI2M Project Manager. Photo taken at the May 3 Generation E Youth Business Showcase in Battle Creek.

Lansing, MI - From handmade sweets and dog walking services to alternative fuel engines and recycling services, innovative and creative thinking was in full-force as over sixty high school and middle school student entrepreneurs from across Michigan competed in the 2011 IGNITE Youth Business Plan Competition.

IGNITE is a statewide, collaborative team of educators, non-profits and entrepreneurial support organizations working to promote entrepreneurship for K-12 students. It is one of three teams within the Moving Ideas to Market initiative funded by a grant from the C.S Mott Foundation and administered through the Prima Civitas Foundation. IGNITE planned and executed its 3rd Annual written business plan competition to encourage Michigan youth to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

"Globally, we're finding regions reinventing their economies by empowering the creativity and energy of their youth," notes Steve Webster, CEO of Prima Civitas Foundation. "We believe IGNITE competitors are re-inventing Michigan's future while building their companies."

The contest consisted of three divisions: high school service businesses, high school product businesses, and middle school businesses. New this year were awards for best science and technology based businesses for both age groups.

The winners and prize amounts are as follows:

	HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCT
$400	Tabitha	Rose	Cozy Corner Bakery	Battle Creek
$200	Pratika	Lyer	The Cakelady	Rochester
$100	Ariel	Rose	The Spontaneous Spoonful	Battle Creek
	HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE
$400	Leah	Simon	Equestrian Track and Apparel Consignment Services	Howell
$200	Annie	Munson	Vibrant Images Photography	Frankenmuth
$100	Tyler	Ireland	Universal Recycling	Mayville
	MIDDLE SCHOOL
$400	Elijah	Evans	Eli's Enterprises	Hastings
$200	Claire	Anderson	Claire's Unique Pastry Cakes	Hastings
$100	Kylie	Pickard	Pickard's Sheep Farm	Hastings
	HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE
$100	Tyler	Ireland	Universal Recycling	Mayville
	MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE
$100	Kylie	Pickard	Pickard's Sheep Farm	Hastings

Eighteen volunteer judges, representing entrepreneurial support, economic development, and higher education, evaluated submissions. Several students and faculty from IGNITE's collegiate-focused sister team, EnGen, formed teams to judge submissions. Business plans were evaluated on criteria including business description, marketing analysis, financial analysis, and feasibility.

Past competition alumni include 2009 IGNITE first place winner, Alexandra Reau, who was recently featured in the New York Times and Girls' Life Magazine for her Community Supported Agriculture business.

The IGNITE network is currently working with interested communities in developing local entrepreneur competitions and entrepreneurial youth programming.