West Virginia's young people are leaving the state to find work in other states, and the state wants to do something about it.
The Benedum Foundation has awarded West Virginia University a $60,000 grant to develop a plan to help young people start their own businesses, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports.
"Youth entrepreneurship is important because, in West Virginia, we know our students are leaving to pursue employment in other states," says a WVU official.
"We see entrepreneurship as a solution for students to remain in their communities, pursue their passions, and contribute to their local economy while giving themselves the chance to have meaningful employment in the place they want to be."
Under the plan, middle school students will be given the opportunity to participate in a free after-school program that teaches them about entrepreneurship.
They'll also have mentors to develop a community-based entrepreneurship project and produce a pitch to sell it.
The student teams will also have access to mini-grants to turn their ideas into reality in their hometown.
"For small rural towns, one great entrepreneurial idea could be the catalyst for generating economic growth that affects an entire region," says a WVU official.
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
In the world of social enterprises, failure is a cringe-worthy moment nobody wants to talk about. But, social entrepreneurs can benefit from their failures.