Oct. 30, 2012 — With the economy continuing to struggle, job hunters, particularly college students and recent college grads, are faced with limited options, often spending weeks or months, finding a job. Yet, what many job seekers don’t realize is that business ownership is within reach. Since 2006, the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour has hosted more than 500 entrepreneurship events in 45 states, in inspiring thousands of young people across the country to become entrepreneurs.

On Friday, Nov. 2, the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour will come to Susanville for a high-energy event, hosted by the Business and Entrepreneurship Center (BEC) at Lassen Community College. The event will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Lassen Community College Gym, located at 478-200 Highway 139.

Empact, an organization that exposes college students to the opportunities of entrepreneurship and to young people who have successfully launched their own companies, is presenting the tour. 

Prospective entrepreneurs should be inspired, not intimidated, by the current economic climate, according to Michael Simmons, co-founder of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour and Partner at Empact.

“More than half the companies on the 2009 Fortune 500 list were launched during a recession or bear market.”  Simmons said, “Technology and globalization have made it very inexpensive to start a business. Now is the best time to become your own boss.”

Arel Moodie, Partner at Empact, agrees with Simmons that there is opportunity, and that opportunity can have a significant impact on the job market: “Today’s students can be critical forces in the next 10 years to help create the 20 million jobs we need in this decade.”

The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour (EET) was created in 2006 to expose young people to entrepreneurship. In more than 500 events in 45 states, Empact’s events feature many of the country’s top young entrepreneurs who have developed or sold successful companies before the age of 30.

“We believe strongly in strengthening the entrepreneurial spirit in California,” said Michael C. Roessler, Statewide Director of the Business & Entrepreneurship Center (BEC) Program. “Encouraging young people to engage in entrepreneurship as a legitimate career path is a logical first step.”

The Business & Entrepreneurship Center (BEC) Program is part of the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development program (CCCEWD). The BEC is a network of community college professionals working in strategic partnerships with businesses, industry and community organizations to identify and meet California’s economic development needs in the areas of business improvements and entrepreneurship training.  Learn more at BuildCalifornia.org

About Empact

Formally known as Extreme Entrepreneurship Education, Empact aims to facilitate a culture of entrepreneurship in communities around the world by exposing young people to entrepreneurship, supporting early stage entrepreneurs and celebrating the vital role young entrepreneurs play in our economy.   Empact has worked with more than 400 colleges and universities, workforce development organizations, Chambers of Commerce, and Small Business Development Centers to help promote entrepreneurship among aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Learn more at iempact.com.