By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The K.A.S.H. Market, a Montevallo initiative that gives young makers, crafters, designers and entrepreneurs an opportunity to sell their creations, is returning to Montevallo, now in its second year.

The market, which stands for Kids’ Action Side Hustle, is open to youth ages 5-18, who must attend with a parent or caregiver. An information session on the market and short business course geared to youth will be held at Parnell Memorial Library on Thursday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. The event is free to attend, and the session will be led by Maggie Hall, a local business owner and member of the Montevallo Main Street Economic Vitality Committee.

The market is sponsored by Alabama Public Television, Montevallo Main Street, Parnell Memorial Library, Impact Montevallo and the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce. Courtney Bennett, the executive director of Montevallo Main Street, outlined the inspiration behind the creation of the market and how it has evolved in its second year.

“Our friends at Alabama Public Television have collaborated with us on several different initiatives through their Ready To Learn Grant over the past few years, and the idea of a program that would highlight youth entrepreneurship was one that we started discussing last year as something new we could add to the mix,” Bennett said. “This comes on the heels of our successful CO.STARTERS course for adult entrepreneurs, which we will offer this upcoming fall for the fourth year in a row. In its second year, we expect to have even more kids participating in the K.A.S.H. Market.”

According to Bennett, one of Montevallo Main Street’s main focuses is to cultivate a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, noting that the youth of today will be tomorrow’s business leaders.

“As we see entrepreneurship on the rise, we know as an organization that we need to do what we can to grow tomorrow’s makers and merchants,” Bennett said.

The name for the market was chosen by kids that Montevallo Main Street surveyed, according to Bennett.

“Sometimes people see businesses like this as a side hustle, and we liked the acronym for cash as well,” Bennett said.

The one-hour business course and orientation session for the market is a simplified version of a business model canvas, with students working through entrepreneurial questions and comparing costs and gross and net profit.

“Our one-hour business course facilitator is not only knowledgeable, but also a fabulous communicator with kids,” Bennett said. “She is able to keep the content understandable and engaging for them.”

A total of 15 participants participated in the K.A.S.H. Market last year, with entrepreneurs typically offering handmade items such as jewelry, tie-dye, hot pads, paintings and paracord items. A shoe renewal service was also offered last year.

Bennett outlined how the event’s sponsors bring the program to life.

“Our sponsors enable us to offer this class free of charge to participating students,” Bennett said. “APT also provides supplies for participants to make their own signs for their tables at the Montevallo Farmers’ Market, which offers kids an opportunity to apply for a booth. This year, the Farmers’ Market will allow us to have a special section of the market on June 23. Last year, Impact Montevallo provided T-shirts for kids to wear at the market. Our sponsors also assist with promoting the event.”

Bennett concluded by expressing the positive community response to the event and what the event provides to its participants.

“We have had a lot of demand to offer this event again,” Bennett said. “A nonprofit program like this can be hard to find. I think it gives kids a lot of confidence to know that they can do something like this. Their excitement is infectious. I love that Main Street can play a part in cultivating young leaders, and I personally enjoy working with all the participating partners—APT, Montevallo Chamber, Impact and Parnell Library— to make this happen.”

For more information on Montevallo Main Street, visit Cityofmontevallo.com/MontevalloMainStreet.aspx.