On Tuesday, May 2 at 8:15 am at Prairie Creek Intermediate School, the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate BizTown^® Mobile and its partnership with College Community Schools.  Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JA) will be the first JA area office to have a mobile unit of this program.  

BizTown^® Mobile, an in-class learning experience with a visit to a simulated town that lets students operate a modeled economy and take on the challenge of running businesses. Christine Landa, President of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa and College Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Doug Wheeler will participate in the ribbon and make remarks celebrating this long-term project.

“The ability to expose our students to these financial literacy, collaborative and community experiences through an onsite simulation is a great step forward in preparing our students for their future participation in our community,” said Dr. Wheeler.  “Students who experience the BizTown simulation build skills and positive memories of the experience as do the many volunteers who participate to deliver the program.  The decision to create a mobile BizTown experience is just one way JA of Eastern Iowa is removing barriers for schools to access this vital programming.” 

During their time at JA BizTown® Mobile, students operate a simulated economy and take on the challenge of running businesses. They get hands-on experience as both employees and consumers, paying rent, taxes, and utilities, buying advertising from the radio station, purchasing insurance, depositing paychecks, buying other businesses’ products, and handling customer service.  This popular learning experience also allows students to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for mayor.