Program aims to keep kids in the area

BENTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Home Town Competitiveness is a program trying to keep young residents in Benton County interested in living in the area when they grow up.

"There's a lot of outward migration because young people don't see a future for themselves in Benton County," said Christie Hale, who coordinates the program.

Concerns that jobs weren't availble in the area have spurred some young people to leave, but Home Town Competitiveness is trying to change that.

The program focuses on entrepeneurship, leadership, charitable giving and youth engagement.

Farmers Market Master Ashley Bice says if kids know how to start part-time businesses of their own, later in life they can start full-time a business in Benton County. And that's just what some of these kids plan to do.

"One of the main parts of home town competitiveness is entrepeneurship," said Bice. "With the farmers market we're allowing people from around our community to basically branch out and start businesses of their own."

The program has already aroused the business instincts of some local teens. 15-year-old Frances Garrett says she would like to utilize the skills she's learned in HTC to stay in town and she has been working on an animal and home sitting business. Her brother, George, is also now interested in staying and has entrepreneured ideas of his own.

Coordinators say ultimately, when these kids go away to college, they hope they come back.