Representatives of the Maverick Challenge Jackson County high school business planning competition recently visited local high schools to talk to students about the program.
JCIDC Workforce Director Jackie Hill, Jackson County Chamber Director Dan Robison, Seymour Main Street Executive Director Jaylyn Stam and Brownstown Ewing Main Street board member Arann Banks visited Brownstown Central, Crothersville, Medora and Seymour high schools to educate students on the annual competition.
Maverick Challenge began in 2008 in Bartholomew County, and Jackson County joined the program in 2011. Last year, Bartholomew County ended the program, but Jackson County leaders chose to keep it going in the county thanks to a partnership between JCIDC, Jackson County Chamber, Seymour Main Street and Brownstown Ewing Main Street and funding partner JCBank.
In September, students, working individually or with two or more other students, will work on their presentations. Then they will create a 3- to 5-minute video to sell their business idea and hear from classroom speakers, who will talk to them about presentation, video, financials and marketing. From November to January, they will be paired up with a mentor to help them.
The 10 finalists will be announced in mid-February and will give oral presentations March 1 with $7,000 being up for grabs.
New this year, the winner of Maverick Challenge Jackson County will be one of the six finalists in the SPARK Tank competition with the winner receiving $10,000.
The winner and potentially others from the county program also can enter the state’s Innovate WithIN competition, which has a regional competition in the spring and finals in June with the ultimate winner receiving $25,000.
