VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber has an exciting new program for students, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) YEA! is for students entering grades 6- 12, who have what it takes to start their own small business, from the ground up, with instruction and inspiration from local business owners and leaders. Students must be creative, energetic and interested in entrepreneurship.

YEA! is a groundbreaking nine-month program that teaches students the power of their ideas and leads them through the process of creating a real business that can be carried out after graduation from the class. Young people begin the YEA! class as students and end as CEOs of their own businesses.

Classes meet primarily at Southern New Hampshire University’s Brunswick campus on a weekly basis, Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. during the school year. Field trips to businesses and a trade show are other aspects of YEA! The kick off first class is Nov. 1, 2012, and ends with graduation on June 6, 2013.

If you are a student, parent or employer of a student who wants to start their own business, just request an application from yea@midcoastmaine.com. The program is open to students at Brunswick High School, Morse High School, Wiscasset High School, Richmond High School, Mt. Ararat High School, Maine Region 10 Technical High School, St. John’s, Chop Point or Hyde School.

YEA!’s direct mission is to help students embrace their passion, energy, creativity and talents, launch a venture, and view entrepreneurship as synonymous with success and freedom. In 2008, YEA! “spun-off” from the University of Rochester, where it was formed in 2004 with support from the Kauffman Foundation, to create its own

UPCOMING EVENTS: The Sept. 12 Chamber Regional Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., takes place at the Inn at Brunswick Station, Noble & Maine streets., Brunswick. The guest speaker is Steve Levesque, executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority. Businesses may submit questions prior to the meeting via info@midcoastmaine.com. Fee for the program is $18/member and $25/non-member. Reservations are required and made be made online at www.midcoastmaine.com or call 725-8797.

A ribbon cutting to celebrate the newly constructed village blacksmith shop at the Long Branch School & General Store takes place at 5 p.m., Sept. 12. The school, store and shop are located at 20 Main St., Bowdoinham. Long Branch School & General Store is also celebrating their first anniversary. Demonstrations by blacksmith instructors, along with past and current students and staff, and light refreshments are all part of the celebration.

Get a taste of LEAN methodology and envision how Continuous Improvement (LEAN) can be applied to your work environment to improve process on Sept. 18, 9 to 11:30 a.m., at Priority Group Business Center, 2 Main St., Topsham. Participants will learn: A new and different way to look at work. Reaffirm that the greatest asset is your staff. Refocus on what the customer wants, needs, and is willing to pay for. A minimum of 12 participants are required. Register online at www.midcoastmaine.com. The seminar is free.

The Social Media Marketing meeting takes place Sept. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Village Room at Priority Business Center, 2 Main St., Topsham. Seating is limited and the seminar is free, but preregistration is required online at www.midcoastmaine.com.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: SMMC welcomes “Hey Bob, Inc.” to its membership. To discover more about this business, go to www.midcoastmaine.com.

The chamber proudly serves 720 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.