S.E.C.U.R.E.

The mission of my company, Fifth Quarter and Fifth Quarterette Designs, is to reverse generational poverty by educating the youth on how to become entrepreneurs utilizing their own talents.  The title of the project S.E.C.U.R.E (She's Educating Children Under Rural Entrepreneurship) is fitting because I am a current public school administrator and former classroom teacher.  My passion to educate the youth in exceeding their own expectations. This has always been my passion, whether in the classroom or in the neighborhood.  Growing up in a rural area and coming back to serve as an educator makes me all the more passionate about seeing the youth in the community excel.  After opening my own business, I realized that we have lost too many children to the systems because more time wasn't take to tap into their potentials.  For example, dismissing a child gang member because of his lifestyle only turns him/her to the statistics of going to jail or dying before age 21.  Acknowledging that there are potentials within the child that can be nurtured and developed in order to secure his/her future. The development of S.E.C.U.R.E will be another avenue that children can take to find an outlet from the day to day struggles they encounter. 

The problem that my company is trying to solve is the increasing crime and high school drop out rate in our local community.  Within the past five years the crime rate among the youth has tripled and the high school drop out rate has increased by 5% this past year and is projected to increase by 25% this upcoming year.  Many of the youth involved and labeled within these statistics have or possessed the potential to become their own boss.  After analyzing the socio-economic status, many of the youth did not have sufficient support to enhance their skills to see the potential within themselves to become business owners.  Training the children to become business owners could result in additional business owners within our rural community, increased tax base to assist our local schools, and a potential face lift for the dying storefronts within our community.

The target market size spans over three counties Hampton, Allendale, and Jasper counties, with a total population of 60,000 consumers. 

My company provides digital printing services in a variety of formats such as; t-shirts and apparel, drinkware, paper/sign printing, jewelry, and personalized gifts.  Starting this business has enlightened me on how the fear of most people beginning a business stems from the legalities of applying for business existence, tax ID numbers, bank accounts, etc.  In addition to ensuring the business is legal, the ability to move the business to the next level by way of finding reliable vendors, funding business needs, and the pressures of staying far ahead of the competitor.    My company will assist our young entrepreneurs on how to approach each area with the proper knowledge and confidence.  

I am seeking funding because the need is essential for effective and efficient implementation of the S.E.C.U.R.E program. I have outgrown my home office and the current equipment quantities will not be sufficient for production. In order to coach the youth, more space is needed.  Shifting to a store front or a larger space would be a wise choice, but my desire is not to obtain loans until I have enough equity stored within my business assets.  Because the business are rebuilding in my community, store fronts and commercial property are at an all time low.  In addition to adding more space, I am in need of more equipment that is durable and able to withstand the additional use from my students.  The funding will be spent on additional space (store front or metal building), a wide format printer to print larger images and designs, a 36x36 heat press to press the larger images and designs, a white toner printer to print transfers to broaden the product line available to customers, and enrollment into a resellers vinyl program to add an additional source of income to the business for sustainability for the S.E.C.U.R.E program.  

My team consist of 5 employees.  

• Co-Owner
• Three employees that assist with ordering, packaging, delivery, and taking orders
• Personal graphic designer

The Fifth Quarter and Fifth Quarterette Designs would like to thank you all in advance for investing in the future of the children of Hampton, Jasper, and Allendale counties.  Your gracious donations will benefit not only our counties but eventually the world we live in as we decrease the statistics one stat at a time.