POPCORN TO PROFITS:
Turning Kernels into Careers
What if a simple snack could spark a big future? That’s the idea behind Popcorn to Profits, a program teaching West Dayton youth how to build a business, one bag at a time.
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Popcorn is more than tasty - it’s one of the most profitable foods you can sell, with margins over 80%. That means every bag is not just a snack, but a lesson in entrepreneurship, marketing, and money management.
Through Popcorn to Profits, youth:
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Learn how to start and run a real business from the ground up
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Gain hands-on skills in production, sales, and teamwork
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Turn community-grown corn into a profitable, local enterprise
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Build confidence and see themselves as leaders and entrepreneurs
With support from GECC and partners like Omega CDC, Popcorn to Profits is expanding from a small pilot into a sustainable business model that invests back into the community.
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Because in West Dayton, we don’t just grow food — we grow opportunity.
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POPCORN TO PROFITS
THE PROBLEM: Youth in West Dayton have limited opportunities to gain real-world entrepreneurial experience and access to sustainable income-generating activities.
OUR WORK:
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Youth entrepreneurship training delivered in partnership with Omega CDC
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Hands-on business experience through growing, processing, and selling popcorn
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High-profit, leveraging popcorn’s low production costs and strong market demand
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Pathway to sustainability by automating shelling and harvesting to expand production capacity
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Community economic development through a scalable, locally owned business model
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Integration with urban agriculture building on GECC’s history of community gardening and food education
THE IMPACT: Equips youth to become entrepreneurs while creating a profitable, community-owned business.