The Greater Naples Chamber, in partnership with Collier County Public Schools, hosted the 5^th annual Youth Business Fair on Saturday, March 2nd, at Gulf Coast High School. The event included students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade selling products, services, or pitching their startup ideas. The businesses also competed for awards in hopes of winning the ultimate prize, the Sunshine Award, where the winner’s products will be sold inside a Sunshine Ace Hardware store.

Over thirty-two student-run businesses participated during one of the season's busiest event weekends in Collier County.

There were one hundred and thirty-one public attendees who had the opportunity to vote on their favorite student business in three categories: most original idea, highest business potential, and most creative presentation.

“I am grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of the Youth Business Fair again this year. It is truly amazing to see the creativity of the students in the ideas and businesses that they are able to design,” said Peter Falisi, owner of Two Guys Catering & Kitchen, a judge for the 2024 Youth Business Fair. “I was blown away by how knowledgeable some of the students are and how well they are able to present and sell their products or services. The partnership between the Greater Naples Chamber and Collier County Public Schools helps bring the classroom to life and allows kids to learn essential business skills they will use for the rest of their lives. I wish there were programs like this when I was a kid to promote and support entrepreneurship."

This year’s winners are as follows:

Elementary

•    1st – Bee Sweet Naturals (Kaitlynn Carballea)

•    2nd – Wild Wardlings Soap (Addie and Beau Ward)

•    3rd – Gianna's & Theresa's Amazing Face Paint (Gianna and Theresa Latino)

Middle

•    1st – X Gen Robotics (Ben Jarvis)

•    2nd – Smile Bracelets (Lynlee Richards)

•    3rd – Delaney & Co. Designs (Delaney Long)

High

•    1st – The Family Forge (Declan & Caleb Donnelly)

•    2nd – Womping Willow (Josie Jarvis)

•    3rd – Treasure & Talent (Joshua, Eliana, & Sofia Guerra)

Public Vote

•    Most Original Idea: Smile Bracelets (Lynlee Richards)

•    Most Business Potential: Just Right Jewelry (Sophia Olivo, Katelyn and Hailey Passman)

•    Most Creative Presentation: Manualidades PRO (Pedro Perez)

Sunshine Award

•    The Family Forge (Declan & Caleb Donnelly)

•    Manualidades PRO (Pedro Perez)

The Chamber would like to extend a special thank you to our Youth Business Fair sponsors:

Sunshine Ace Hardware, Neapolitan Family Magazine, Jan and Kim Kantor, Tim Gibbons Photography, 4imprint, Unidos Latin Kitchen, Adam’s Foods Inc. (McDonald’s), and Collier County Public Schools for being amazing supporters of our community.

Additional photos from the 2024 Youth Business Fair may be found here.