The Jessye Norman School of the Arts will soon host a Shark-Tank style competition for interested CSRA families. The competition, “J-Tank,” is a collaboration between the school and the Augusta Housing Authority, First Community Bank, and the Augusta Partnership for Children. The project will underscore the importance of art as a vehicle for economic empowerment. Families can apply at jessyenormanschool.org/jtank.

Interested families of 8th-12th grade students are invited to attend the initial general interest meeting on July 30th. Families will go on to participate in “J-Tank,” a Shark-Tank style pitch competition for original business ideas, beginning on August 3rd, 2021.

20 families will be selected to participate in “J-Tank Academy,” a 13-week crash course in how to start a business. Selected families will be paired with an expert mentor to help guide the development of participants’ ideas, and each family will receive up to $500 in seed money for their business.

Jay Jacobs, an accomplished local artist and arts entrepreneur, is the project lead for J-Tank. “I am excited to see how advice and guidance from local entrepreneurs can help ideas that come from the ether develop into real, tangible businesses,” Jacobs says. “I hope some kid comes in with an original, half-formed idea, and I want to see if a little guidance can cause a spark of inspiration that might totally transform their life and their income.”

The school hopes that the project will help bring fun, vibrant, new businesses to Augusta’s local economy. All participants will learn about branding, idea development, marketing, as well as the basics of generating and managing new income.

Interested participants can apply at jessyenormanschool.org/jtank. If you have questions or would like to become involved with the program, email Executive Director Gary Dennis at [email protected].