Proposal for the “Connections Youth Community Center”

1. Proposal for the “Connections Youth Community Center” Presenter: Benjamin Rast

2. Objectives: I intend to ask for you to ‘join with me’, Though not necessarily financially

3. Questions to Explore What is the Need? What is the Vision? What does it look like when implemented? What does success look like? What are the Costs? What is the Support? What do the Youth want? What are the Concerns?

4. The Need

5. The Vision

6. Implementation This section should answer: What products and/or services will you sell? Who's behind it? Who are your customers and what needs are you fulfilling with your products and/or services? Organization and Management: Include in this section your company structure (sole proprietorship, limited liability company, etc.) as well as your background and years of experience. If you'll have employees, list them here with their titles or roles. For more on business structures, see the IRS's descriptions (most people working on their own will be sole proprietorships, but there are benefits to forming a Limited Liability Corporation, LLC, or other structures). Products or Services: Detailed descriptions of what you're going to sell, including prices and specific benefits compared to your competitors. If you're selling products, you'd include here your sources and how much markup you're adding. For services, include your hourly rate or project rate (not sure what to charge yet? Here are some tips). Marketing and Sales: To grow your business, you'll need a sound marketing strategy—for the next three years at least. Plan on investing in corporate identity design (e.g., logo design, website development, business cards), expenses like advertising in newspaper or search engine listings, and think about other ways you'll reach your customers. Market Analysis: Research on your competitors—what they're charging, how they position themselves, what their products are compared to yours is also an important exercise. For an informal business plan, a simple Google search of local and online competitors might do, but for more in-depth market research, you might want to turn to sites like Hoovers to get more detailed business and industry information. The more research you can do, the better (if there's a lot, just add it in an appendix). Financial Information: This is probably the most involved part of your plan. You'll need to know exactly how much you will need to start up and what the money will be used for—list every expense you can think of for the next three years at least; how much you expect to make each year (financial forecasts); and set some financial assumptions like your tax rate and how many days you'll give your customers time to pay your invoices (e.g., net 30 days). The business plan templates and tools in the next section will help you create these plans, but you may also need to research standard assumptions for your industry or sample rates similar companies use. Joining an industry association, such as the Graphic Artists Guild, might get you access to financial planning tools and industry-standard rates. Funding Request: If you're looking for a loan, create a funding request section where you outline how much you'll need, what the money will go towards, the terms you'd like to have applied, and any expected business developments that could impact your loan in the future (e.g., you expect to get a new partner in the future). Need to become an NPO with a board and be a registered charity. Establish credible policy. Looking to partner with BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of Canada Staff and volunteers would be screened and trained Targeted at Jr. and Sr. High youth – Membership Process Cost not a barrier to any activity or event Runs from 3-6pm weekdays as well as some Saturdays Runs through the summer (increased hours of operation, decreased planned activity) Primarily based on what the youth want to do- week by week or month by month. Have youth on the board, making decisions Activity days – emphasize Parental involvement (see possible activity list) Shop days Free Time days – tutoring, have fun, games, movie night Community days- giving back to the community Opportunity Board – what other organizations are doing, and when Food- important to have some snacks and foodstuffs available

7. Hypothetical Success Stories Step 1a Uninterested to interested and productive; Step 1b Cutting, Suicide, got help! Step 2a Parental involvement days; Step 2b The artist who sells her clay pots on shop day. Step 2c fun game that illustrates the difference between RRSPs, GICs, Mutual Funds, and ‘playing the stock market’ manually. Step 3a Group of students saying HEY lets shovel old peoples driveway; Step 3b A student who leaves happy and confident because he knows he has prepared for his future. Step 3c; the youth who helps at the youth center on our board, or as a volunteer Step 0a The parents who don’t know what to do; Step 0b Consolidation of organizations and awareness of activities.; Step 0c the youth who has no time for our activities, because they are so involved or involved at work, yet keep connected with us.

8. Costs

9. Location

10. Plan

11. Support/ What I have currently Pursuit of Government Grants (FCSS and BGC) still possible without Pursuit of Ministerial – hiatus Pursuit of Business Sponsorships+ Partnerships Pursuit of Community funding Pursuit of NPO/ board members, volunteers Alternatives

12. Desires of Youth Unknown

13. Addressing Concerns Will this be a religious affiliated organization? No Will this be a sustainable endeavor? (Funding, Volunteers) Will this be a place where all the ‘bad kids’ hang out?