Junior Achievement launches educational initiative in South Fayette
Gwen Rodi, vice president of the South Fayette Township Board of Commissioners, presents a "key to the city" to South Fayette student Maria Gabriel as the honorary first mayor of JA BizTown.
State Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-Cecil Township
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Representing South Fayette at the JA BizTown groundbreaking are, from left, John Barrett, township manager; Gwen Rodi, vice present of the township board of commissioners; Maria Gabriel, honorary first mayor BizTown; and Commissioner Rebecca Sray.
Think back, Dennis Davin told his audience primarily full of adults.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Chartiers Valley Intermediate School student Jenna Sexton and her principal, Julie Franczyk, participate in the ceremonial groundbreaking for JA BizTown.
“When all of us here in this room were in fifth and sixth grade, what were we doing in school?” the secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development said.” We’re studying – some of us were studying – reading, writing, doing math, maybe some other things. But we certainly weren’t running a business.”
Youngsters in that age range, though, will have the opportunity to simulate doing so through JA BizTown, an initiative of Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania.
Davin was among the representatives of state government, educators, elected officials and members of the business community to attend the April 4 ceremonial groundbreaking at Junior Achievement headquarters in South Fayette Township, where BizTown is expected to be up and running by the fall.
“This BizTown will be run by children in grades 4, 5 and 6, and that’s the coolest part of it, to give young people the opportunity for a dress rehearsal for life,” explained Dennis Gilfoyle, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania. “They’ll look at one of 125 different jobs that are available here at BizTown for them to work in a variety of capacities.”
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Dennis Davin
Schools throughout the region are invited to participate, and many educators already expressed interest.
“Teachers will spend about nine hours at school getting the students ready for the daylong program when they do come here, and then the students will learn everything about citizenship, entrepreneurship, financial literacy,” Gilfoyle said.
“They operate these businesses as if they own them,” he continued. “They have to borrow the money to open their business. They get paid three times. They get frustrated because they don’t get a long lunch. They fight among themselves, just like people do at work. And so all those reality-based things happen here at BizTown.”
Davin said Gov. Tom Wolf and his administrators always are seeking innovative ways to strengthen the state’s workforce.
“But with all the ideas I’ve heard about how to improve our workforce and give Pennsylvanians opportunities to succeed, BizTown may just be one of the most inventive and forward-thinking initiatives I’ve ever seen,” he said. “We could talk from an economic development perspective, how BizTown is addressing major economic issues for this region, like worker shortages. We can talk about how it helps ensure that, in the near future, businesses have a sizable talent pool from which they can draw highly skilled and workforce-ready employees.”
State Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-Cecil Township, said he helped secure a $150,000 grant for the project, with support from other legislators.
“Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania’s decision to choose South Fayette to locate this endeavor speaks volumes about this community. The central location and easy access makes this area attractive for business,” he said. “It will hopefully spark an interest so that when they become adults, they will choose to remain in the region.”
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Dennis Gilfoyle
More than 12,000 students are expected to visit the 10,000-square-foot BizTown facility annually, according to information provided by Junior Achievement. Similar ventures by the economic education organization are in place in other parts of the country.
Among the local educational institutions that has a longstanding partnership with Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania is Chartiers Valley School District, for which Julie Franczyk serves as principal of the intermediate school.
“Seeing the impact that JA has had for our students, from our primary kids all the way up to our high school kids, makes it very exciting for us to have BizTown and all the opportunities that it’s going to bring for our students,” she said. “This unique learning experience will help bolster their chance for success in society, as well as giving them valuable real-world experiences, and that’s something we’re extremely excited to have for our kids.”
For more information, visit www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-westernpa.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Harry Funk/The Almanac
An artist’s rendering of JA BizTown stands next to an example of a business kiosk that will be in place when the facility opens.