ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — Roxbury’s K-6 schools will host their fall TREP$ Marketplace on Wednesday, Dec. 3, giving young entrepreneurs a chance to debut and sell their own products, district officials announced.
The event will take place from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at Franklin Elementary School, 8 Meeker St. in Succasunna. Overflow parking will be available at the Lincoln/Roosevelt School lots and the Meeker Street building lot.
The TREP$ Marketplace is a flea-market style event in which all vendors are fourth- through sixth-grade students from Franklin, Jefferson, Kennedy, Nixon and Lincoln/Roosevelt schools. Over the past six weeks, 80 students have participated in the award-winning TREP$ program, where they learned the basics of entrepreneurship.
“TREP$,” short for enTREPreneurS, teaches students how to develop, market and launch their own small businesses, culminating in a one-night marketplace where they sell their products directly to friends, family and community members. All items created by the students will be available for cash-only purchase on Dec. 3.
“There will be something for everyone: young, old, or even the household pet!” the district said.
“Our students have been getting ready to show the world that passion, determination, and hard work have their rewards. Please stop by to browse, buy, or just offer encouragement to these amazing entrepreneurs,” said TREP$ instructors Marcia Cordeiro, Joanne Saul, Erin Neumann and Stephanie Douglas.
The program is sponsored by the Roxbury Community School and aims to inspire creative thinking and hands-on problem-solving. It was launched with initial funding from Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the New Jersey Education Association.
In February 2019, each of the four elementary schools received a $2,000 grant for a proposal titled “Roxbury Inspires Sustainable Entrepreneurs (R.I.S.E.).” Lincoln/Roosevelt School received its $2,000 grant most recently to begin its own TREP$ program this year.
“Part of the beauty of TREP$ is that the kids are so engaged in starting their own businesses, they don’t even realize the lessons they are learning,” said Hayley Romano, co-founder and managing director of TREP$. “Regardless of the career path each chooses, the ability to think like an entrepreneur will serve them well.”
The community is invited to attend, support the young business owners, and explore their handmade products. Organizers remind attendees that the event is cash only.
