Youth entrepreneur challenge seeks applicants

The Long Island Young Entrepreneur Challenge is now taking applications for its competition that gives fledgling entrepreneurs the chance to win $10,000 toward their startup ideas.

The competition is geared toward young Long Islanders between the ages of 17 and 22 to help them get business ideas off the ground. Applicants will have the options of choosing between two tracks -- an entrepreneur track that is open to Long Island residents, and the student track for those attending local universities.

Five finalists in each track will be picked to compete in a public pitch contest before judges on May 9. One winner from each track will be picked.

This is the second time the competition, which is sponsored by Capital One and FrontStreet Facility Solutions, has been held.

Last year, the competition ran through the summer with the final pitch contest in August. This year, the challenge has been moved to better coincide with the school year to encourage more applicants.

Those interested in applying should submit an application in the form of a short business plan  by Friday, March 29, to FrontStreet's website at www.frontstreetfs.com/community-application.htm.