Moncton, NB — Enterprise Greater Moncton and the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (YEDI) Network have announced the list of finalists for this year’s Green Edition of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

This year a record 72 projects were submitted for consideration from 171 students representing 15 schools from all areas of the province.

"Clearly the move to adopt a ‘green’ theme worked in terms of engaging students," said Estelle Doiron, Youth Entrepreneurship Development Officer with Enterprise Greater Moncton. "We started out this year with an objective of 50 applications, but to have received 72 submissions is simply fantastic."

There are 14 students involved in the six projects selected to present at this year’s finals. The finalists are:

    "Eco Gym"                Sugarloaf Senior High School        Campbellton 
    "Casa Verde"            École Mathieu Martin                     Dieppe
    "Fixatif Citronné"     École Mathieu Martin                     Dieppe
    "Drive It"                  John Caldwell School                    Grand Falls
    "Green Sound"          Woodstock High School                Woodstock
    "Stack-M"                  Woodstock High School                Woodstock

The six finalist teams will now pitch their "Green Business Ideas" to a panel of judges at the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Finale taking place at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton on Wednesday, May 19th. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the festivities getting underway at 6:00 p.m..

The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is the only fully bilingual business plan competition in New Brunswick. It is designed to promote entrepreneurship within high schools throughout the province by giving students the opportunity to develop an idea, research its possibilities, and sell the idea to a panel of expert judges.

This year’s Green Edition was adopted as a response to increased student interest and awareness of the challenges posed by global warming. By refocusing the Challenge to themes that are more relevant to students.

"The increase in participation in this year’s competition demonstrates that students become more motivated when they identify with something important to them. Students are more sensitive to environmental challenges and this competition is giving them a chance to show how some creative thinking and smart ideas can possibly save our planet.

The 2010 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is supported by Co-op Atlantic, TD Canada Trust, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, NB Association of CBDC’s, ACOA, Government of New Brunswick, United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick, Fédération des jeunes francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick and Bell Aliant.

More information about the challenge can be found on the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge website at entrepreneurshipnb.ca

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Information:

Chad Peters
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Office (506) 858-9550 ext. 104