Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joins groundbreaking ceremony for Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center

Eastern Shore, MD – On Friday, Aug. 19, Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the upcoming Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center, scheduled to open in Fall 2023. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan attended and presented JA President Jayme Hayes with a governor's citation.

The event was attended by members of the Perdue and Henson foundations, project donors, committed storefront businesses, JA board members and other valued members of the community.

“I am so impressed with this facility,” Hogan told the group.

Hogan dedicated $1 million to the creation of the center in his most recent state budget. The total cost is estimated at $7.5 million. Junior Achievement is still accepting donations for the project.

The Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center will be the first of its kind on Maryland’s eastern shore, offering JA capstone programs such as JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. Both will allow students to interact with local businesses to discover how these organizations benefit them as consumers but also show the opportunities that await in their own backyard.

The facility will be located at the Oak Ridge Commons in Salisbury, occupying the space of the former Kmart building.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have Gov. Hogan as a partner in expanding educational efforts here on the Shore,” Hayes said. “We’re eager to open this facility and continue serving thousands of students throughout the entire region!”

Hogan took time to thank Hayes, JA Executive Chair Mike Dunn, the Perdue and Henson foundations, local partners, elected officials and the countless educators that helped in the creation of the Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center.

“I remember when we first talked about it, and I remember making a decision that we were going to fund it, but I’m anxious to just see some kids and see how it’s working in reality,” Hogan said.

About Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore

Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth, grades K-12 both public and private, on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Our hands-on, age-appropriate programs inspire youth to live within their means, prepare for the world of work and understand the free enterprise system. We are an enhancement to what kids learn in school and a direct link to real-life applications, making school relevant and increasing students’ engagement in the classroom.

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