What is the Kid’s Business Challenge?

Sponsored by the Plainfield Business Association, Bright Future: Kid’s Business Challenge is a hands-on, mentor-driven program that connects local business owners with aspiring young innovators.

Students will develop their own business ideas and showcase them at one of Plainfield’s biggest annual events—Celebrate Plainfield Day!

  • Focuses on simplistic building blocks of creating a business.

    Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 @ Plainfield Recreation Center:

    • July 8th

    • July 22nd

    • August 5th

    • August 19th

  • Focuses on the fundamentals of creating a business centered providing a useful service or product.

    Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 @ Plainfield Recreation Center:

    • July 10th

    • July 24th

    • August 7th

    • August 21st

Building a Stronger Community Starts with Investing in our Future Leaders

About the program

Who can participate?

Anyone from Plainfield or surrounding towns in either of the two age groups based on the grade they will enter in the Fall of 2025:

  • Grade 3-5 (Bright Builders): Focuses on simplistic building blocks of creating a business

  • Grade 6-8 (Future Founders): Focuses on the fundamentals of creating a business centered providing a useful service or product.

How much does the program cost?

The program is absolutely free to sign-up for.

There are costs that families may incur for supplies for the showcase, however, there will be donated supplies available. If this is a concern, please reach out to the organizers to discuss.

What is the time commitment?

There will be 6 sessions in total and “homework” between class sessions

  • An introductory virtual welcome call

  • 4-Two-hour In-Person Workshops from 5:30 -7:30 at the Plainfield Recreation Department

    • Grades 3-5 Tuesdays-7/8,7/22,8/5, 8/19

    • Grades 6-8 Thursdays-7/10,7/24,8/7,8/21

  • Final showcase at Celebrate Plainfield day (Saturday, September 13th)

How do I sign my student up?

Fill out this form to reserve your spot in the program!

Deeper Dive

Bright Builders Curriculum Overview

Grades 3-5

Future Founders Curriculum Overview

Grades 6-8

Frequesntly Asked Questions

Are you a business leader and want to help guide and mentor students?

We are looking for leaders within the eastern CT community to help support students as their business ideas come to fruition!

Email us for more information!

Contact Us

Have questions? Feel free to email us at KidsBusinessChallengeCT@gmail.com.

Who is behind the Kid’s Business Challenge?

Sponsored by the Plainfield Business Association, a group of business professionals from around the community are pitching in to help grow our student’s ability to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality.

The main point of contact for the program is Sam Derenthal, who has more than 15 years of experience leading workforce development efforts and is a member of the Plainfield Board of Education.

You can find out more about the Plainfield Business Association here.