Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc.

Unlocking the Potential of North Quabbin/Franklin County Youth Through Entrepreneurship, Job Readiness, Financial and Technology Education and Action

YES Biz Center, 26 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364

Phone: 978-544-1869
Fax: 978-544-1809
www.yes-inc.org

Send an email

VISIT Weekdays 9-5

Since 1998, YES has helped over 1,000 young people unlock their potential through entrepreneurship, job readiness, financial and technology education.

YES BIZCenter

Print, Copy, Fax, Ship, Surf, Meet

Learn how YES BizCenter can help you save money on these services and provide job-training, work experience, and income opportunities for unemployed youth by clicking here

YES BizCenter is a not-for-profit venture planned and operated by members of the Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc. (YES). Since 1998, YES has helped over 1,000 young people unlock their potential through entrepreneurship, job readiness, financial and technology education.

Teen Cyber Cafe

Come enjoy free music, art, games, PCs w/ hi-speed Internet access, snacks and more! Open weekdays at YES BizCenter, 28 South Main Street, Orange. Click here for more info.

Buy YES River Rat 2006 Coffee! Support the Teen Cyber Cafe by purchasing a 1 lb. bag of whole-bean organic fair trade coffee, roasted by helpful neighbor, Dean's Beans. $9.00/bag at YES BizCenter. Or, order by phone or email using MasterCard or VISA for overnight delivery (within New England) for just $4.00 additional.

Odd Jobs Squard

Turn Your Talents into Cash!

Put some jingle in your pocket by helping your neighbors with odd jobs! From art lessons and pet-sitting to moving and yardwork, there are tons of opportunities for creating your own odd jobs business. Since 1998, the Odd Jobs Exchange has helped hundreds of area teens 'learn to earn.'

Join Today! It's easy to sign up and it's free! Simply download an application form for your area and return by the seasonal edition deadlines: Spring-Summer (March 15) and Fall-Winter (September 15)

Odd Jobs Squad

About YES

The Young Entrepreneurs Society (YES) was born in Orange, Massachusetts in 1998 as a project of the Orange Revitalization Partnership (ORP). YES was developed by ORP's community organizer, Tim Cohen-Mitchell. Our first program was the Odd Jobs Exchange (aka Odd Jobs Squad).

We launched our first entrepreneurial training class in a borrowed storefront after being certified to teach by National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). A graduate from this class, Jerry Whaland, who ignited the idea for YES in 1997, joined Tim as a NFTE-certified teacher. He and Tim co-taught our 3rd class. A graduate of this class, Dan Richards, soon joined them as a NFTE-certified teacher.

The three teachers incorporated YES as an independent organization in April 2000 and moved it to a low-rent storefront in downtown Orange thanks to the generosity of local entrepreneur, Donn Deane. YES continued offering classes to local youth, later serving youth in other communities. We received our tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status in 2000.

In 2002, several YES alumni took part in a pilot social venture planning class. Suppported by a team of 20 area entrepreneurs, they developed a plan for a cyber cafe and copy shop that won $2,000 and first place in the National 4H Council/USDA Cooperative Business Plan Competition. That fall, a restaurant property housed in two adjoining buildings with three storefronts at 24, 26, 28 South Main Street went on the market. Using the alumni business plan, YES acquired a mortgage to purchase the property in 2003. With donations of time, services, products and equipment by over 200 area supporters, two of the storefronts were renovated.

In 2004, the YES BizCenter was launched, employing several YES alumni, and selling copy, fax, shipping, Internet access and other services, along with office supplies and meeting room rental. In 2004, YES brought together several area agencies and a business sponsor to create a 'Teen Cyber Cafe', providing a computer lab for local youth. The YES BizCenter broke even in Year One and the Cafe recorded over 1,500 visits by 150-plus area youth in its first year of operation.

Current projects at the site include the construction of a music studio in the basement, the renovation (for lease) of the restaurant in the third storefront, and the renovation of our roomy post-and-beam loft to house a conference room and 12 equipped cubicles to incubate both youth and adult businesses.

Posting # 1402 Expires: January 1, 2050