Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a report on the recommendations from the Youth Entrepreneurship Advisory Council on strategies to help promote youth entrepreneurship within the city of Atlanta. The report includes 13 recommendations that are under review for action by the Administration.

 The recommendations outlined in the report focus on connecting youth to the resources they need, while providing them with opportunities to explore their talents in a safe and rewarding manner. The final recommendations focus on three critical areas:

1. Fueling our youth’s entrepreneurial spirit towards safe and sustainable pathways;
2. Investing in the whole person, supporting the youth’s basic and socio-emotional needs; and
3. Partnering with Atlanta Public Schools.

“Thank you to the members of the Advisory Council for their thoughtful recommendations and diligent work towards creating a successful path forward for youth in Atlanta,” said Mayor Bottoms. “We must continue to make bold investments in our young people and steer them toward productive and beneficial outcomes.”

The Advisory Council, comprised of community members and partners, was formed through Administrative Order 2020-21. The Order recommends strategies for fueling the entrepreneurial spirit of young people throughout the city and supporting the entrepreneurial goals of youth who are selling water on the streets of Atlanta.

The Advisory Council’s recommendations, delivered to the Mayor on July 31, were developed under the leadership of three co-chairs: James "Jay" Bailey, President and CEO, Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; The Honorable Marci Collier Overstreet, Councilmember, Atlanta City Council; and David "Dave" Payne, Managing Director, TechStars Atlanta.

The Advisory Council placed a strong emphasis on hearing from youth about their experiences selling water at street corners. Advisory Council members and City staff visited youth in their communities to learn more about their motivations, goals, and interests.

The Bottoms Administration will continue to work with internal and external partners, including Invest Atlanta and WorkSource Atlanta, to develop plans to act on the recommendations adopted by the Administration.

Individuals and organizations interested in supporting solutions and implementation efforts can email their information to [email protected]

The full report of the Advisory Council on Youth Entrepreneurship can be found at this link.