Long Island Young Entrepeneur Challenge Launches, Eyes Local Students

Empire Facilities Management Group and Capital One Bank are calling all Long Island youth seeking to start their own business to take part in their first annual Long Island Young Entrepreneur Challenge.

According to CEO of Empire Facilities Management, Joseph Scaretta, the idea was created to liven the job market for young entrepreneurs.

“There is no better way to give back then to promote entrepreneurship,” said Scaretta, “which is vital in fostering economic growth and bolstering job creation in our country today.”

Eligible entrepreneurs include people between the ages of 17 years old and 22 years old from either Suffolk or Nassau County, or any student enrolled at a Long Island college or university.

The competition will be split into two tracks; the Entrepreneur Track, which includes LI residents and the Student Track, which includes LI students. Applications will be accepted online until July 20 at 5 p.m., and will be judged upon the service, demographic, originality and likelihood to succeed. Five entrants from each track will move onto the “live pitch” on August 16 at Capitol One Bank’s office in Melville.

There will be a winner from each track, who will be awarded $10,000 as start-up funding, along with equipment and mentorship from a Capitol One Bank executive. Runner-ups will receive equipment and mentorship for added support in starting your own business.

For more information on the competition, there will be public information sessions through conference call on July 9, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and on July 11, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For the official guidelines of the LI YEC, visit www.esgfm.com/guidelines.

To submit an application, visit www.esgfm.com/application