Digital business education course teaches kids how to start their own companies. Young entrepreneur in photo, wearing a pink pantsuit, smiles broadly as she cuts a blue ribbon announcing her company is open for businesss. (Courtesy photo)
Digital business education course teaches kids how to start their own companies. (Courtesy photo)

The NextGen CEO cohort of spring 2025, featuring some 20 student participants learning how to start and run their own business, will open their self-made businesses, 4-6 p.m. May 22 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast’s Railroad Clubhouse, 901 N Railroad Ave., Santa Maria.

NextGen CEO is a nine-week digital business education course that teaches kids the basics of starting their own business, courtesy of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber.

The program, designed for those at a sixth-grade learning level, covers five categories: business fundamentals, cost models, marketing and customer service, money management, and future planning.

The spring cohort of the program is in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mid Central Coast, hosted at the Railroad Clubhouse and Evans Park Club sites in Santa Maria.

Community members are invited to come and support the students by buying from their stands and seeing the work they have put into their businesses.

Student-run businesses include selling jewelry, crochet items, handmade totes and bags, canvas artwork, hair bows, tie-dye shirts, personalized cups and lip gloss, flowers and plants.

“After nine weeks of hands-on learning, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking, our students are ready to launch their own small businesses and we couldn’t be more proud,” Michael Boyer, chamber president/CEO.

“NextGen CEO isn’t just about teaching kids how to start a business; it’s about planting the seeds for long-term workforce development by building real-world skills at an early age,” he said.

“The Business Launch Day will celebrate this cohort’s innovation and hard work over the course as they’ve learned what it takes to open their own businesses,” Boyer said.

“We invite the entire community to join us in supporting these young entrepreneurs as they take their first big step toward becoming tomorrow’s changemakers,” he said.

For more about the NextGen CEO program, visit https://www.santamaria.com/education-workforce/nextgen-ceo/. 

To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast, call Kelly White O’Neill, 805-354-7433, email Kelly.whiteoneill@centralcoastkids.org, or visit centralcoastkids.org.