The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce is seeking enterprising youths in grades 6-12 for its Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a program that teaches students all about business by putting them in charge of one of their own.

Started in 2004 at the University of Rochester and adopted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, YEA! is a 30-week program where students create and run their own businesses with the aid of more than 100 instructors and business leaders serving as mentors.

“We’re one of the first to do it in Washington state,” said Betty Nokes, president and CEO for the Bellevue Chamber.

The chamber will take applications through Oct. 18, and judges will select just 24 students to participate. Students will come up with a business plan, apply for a business license, open a checking account, create a company website and even pitch their enterprise to judges for a chance at seed money, Nokes said.

YEA! participants will meet 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays at the DeVry University campus in Bellevue for instruction, mentoring and field trips.

Of the 1,600 students that participated nationally last year, Nokes said there was a 100-percent graduation rate and 99 percent went on to college. Fifty percent kept their business and 20 percent started a second.”We thought these are all great things for kids in the future,” she said.

To receive an application, call 425-213-1211 or email at kfredericks@bellevuechamber.org.