Building Career and Financial Skills for Lifelong Success
Nestled in the heart of Columbus' Italian Village is a town with all the hallmarks of a bustling community: restaurants, storefronts, banks, nonprofits, and even a city hall. The mayor meets with constituents. CEOs make important business decisions. Shoppers browse for the best deals while employees keep operations running smoothly.
But the people running this town aren’t seasoned professionals—they’re local elementary school students.
This is just one of the immersive experiences offered by Junior Achievement of Central Ohio aimed at making learning more relevant and connected to opportunity. Known as JA BizTown, this day-long program welcomes thousands of students, educators, and volunteers each year to help young people apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world financial and career scenarios.
“It’s important for young people to connect what they are learning in school and life to their future opportunities,” said Mike Davis, President of Junior Achievement of Central Ohio. “Our role is to help students find their individual path to success based on their interests, skills, and values.”
For more than 75 years, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio has partnered with employers, educators, and parents to help young people build the confidence and curiosity needed to thrive. Through programs that focus on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness, the organization equips young people with practical skills—from managing money and making informed financial decisions—to exploring potential career pathways.
Davis said the organization’s impact stems from its commitment to reaching students early and reinforcing key concepts as they grow.
“We can’t start these lessons in high school and expect young people to have a sophisticated understanding of mindsets, choices, consequences, and persistence when they reach adulthood,” said Davis. “We start with basic concepts and guiding principles that students can build on throughout their whole lives.”
During the 2024-2025 school year, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio partnered with 71 districts in central and southeastern Ohio, bringing school-based programs into urban, suburban, and rural K-12 classrooms. The organization also operates two learning centers in Columbus and Newark, which are designed to support schools within a one-hour driving radius. In addition to JA BizTown, the Learning Centers house JA Finance Park, a personal finance and career exploration program for grades 6-12.
“Our role is to help students find their individual pathto success based on their interests, skills, and values.”
— MIKE DAVIS, PRESIDENT OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL OHIO
Over the years, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio has received several grants from The Columbus Foundation and its Supporting Foundations, including the Ingram-White Castle Foundation and the Siemer Family Foundation. These investments have supported educational programming and building renovations to create modern learning spaces.
“Through its creative curriculum and experiential programming, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio is preparing young learners for a lifetime of success,” said Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management at The Columbus Foundation. “By making learning fun, engaging, and relevant, Junior Achievement is opening the doors to possibility and empowering students to confidently navigate their futures.”
Back at JA BizTown, the storefronts begin to quiet as students board their buses at the end of the day. Tomorrow, a new group of students will arrive, ready to step into their roles and run the town.
For many of these students, it’s their first exploration into the worlds of business, government, philanthropy, and personal finance. And while the town may be simulated, the lessons are very real. Through programs like JABizTown, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio is sparking the imagination of future leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs as they begin to envision the communities they will one day help shape and lead.