The National Credit Union Foundation announced the Biz Kid$ Showcase: a nationwide competition for young people age 12 to 18. The initiative aims to raise awareness of credit unions, enhance financial literacy, and encourage entrepreneurship by guiding participants through a series of educational modules and a business planning exercise.

Ultimately, participants must develop a business case and marketing plan for a new financial product or solution that would improve financial well-being in their communities.

Participants can enter as individuals or as part of a team. A panel of credit union leaders will judge all project entries, with the highest performing three projects winning cash prizes of up to $1,500.

“Credit unions are increasingly seeing that financial literacy is just one part of a broader journey towards financial well-being,” said Chad Helminak, Foundation chief impact officer. “The Biz Kid$ Showcase is an opportunity to help members – or the next generation of members – come to the same realization.”

The competition is an extension of the Foundation’s long-running Biz Kid$ program that provides educators with financial literacy materials that complement the long-running PBS television show of the same name.

The Foundation is calling on leagues, associations, credit unions and system partners to help promote the competition. Interested organizations can simply register an account on the Biz Kid$ platform, enroll in the program and download promotional materials.

Registration runs Monday, August 29 through Friday, Sept. 16. Learning modules become available to registered participants on Sept. 19,