Snellville Holds Entrepreneurship Alliance Summit for Students

About a hundred high school students from South Gwinnett, Brookwood, Central Gwinnett, Grayson and Mill Creek were welcomed Wednesday (Nov. 20) to the Entrepreneurship Alliance Summit in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. 

Held at South Gwinnett High since 2011, the summit allows young adults to work with mentors and participate in interactive discussions with a panel of business owners. Students also had one-on-one time with several successful and knowledgeable entrepreneurs from across the community.

The annual event is part of the South Gwinnett Entrepreneurship Academy that was started by the city and the Snellville high school three years ago. 

The academy has grown since then to include students from Brookwood and Central Gwinnett high schools. Through the program, students take an entrepreneurship course where they create and build their own small businesses. At the end of each school year students in the program compete in a “Shark Tank” competition for grant money to use to implement their business ventures.

"It is exciting to be a part of something so innovative," said Snellville Mayor Kelly D. Kautz, who was at the annual summit with Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson. "The city of Snellville was founded by two entrepreneurs. To be able to teach these students 'real world' skills and experiences in hopes that they will open a business in our city someday is very rewarding. We are helping the students and our community at the same time by teaching these students tools that they can use throughout their life."