On May 12, 2010 more than 1,200 area elementary students (grades 3–6) from 15 local schools represented diverse Cincinnati communities and put their entrepreneurial spirit into practice at the Market Madness event. This event allows individual school “economies”, that participate in the Economics Center’s Student Enterprise (StEP) program, to come together for a market experience, including the trade of products and services produced in student-run school businesses. Over 42 businesses, ranging from flower pots to paper airplanes, were featured and students bought, sold and advertised their handmade products. Students also had the opportunity to tour the University of Cincinnati.
Economics Center’s StEP program is currently serving 34 local schools, 16 of which are part of the Cincinnati Public School District. Students in this program gain practical financial skills as classrooms are converted to small businesses and students hold jobs, save, and spend using school currency, and thanks to Impact 100 support, students in five additional elementary schools are served through this program.
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