THE DICKINSON AREA Chamber of Commerce, along with its sponsors, has announced the return of Lemonade Day on July 19. Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Suzanne Larson shows off the lesson books that are available at the chamber. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Young entrepreneurs are invited to turn lemons into sweet rewards July 19.

The Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce has kicked off its third-annual Lemonade Day.

“The idea behind the free educational program is to teach kids how to start, own and operate their own business with a lemonade stand,” Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Suzanne Larson said.

The young participants follow a structured lesson plan to set a goal, make a plan, work the plan and achieve their dream.

“These kids are learning financial literacy and philanthropy for the first time,” Larson said. “They are taught to ‘save some, spend some and share some.'”

The program also offers many more valuable skills that will follow them through life, she added.

“It’s important to cement those ideas in the growing brains when it matters the most,” she said.

Youth can get creative with their business names, stand designs and even develop their own lemonade recipe.

“They aren’t just making lemonade — they are being creative entrepreneurs, they are selling bracelets, snacks. It’s been really awesome,” Larson said. “Kids are also getting original on ways to get the attention of potential customers.”

Lemonade stands don’t have to be elaborate — it can be as simple as a card table with a hand-drawn logo on poster board.

“The program is free and we want everyone to be able to participate,” she said.

Registration is open to any child through about sixth grade in the surrounding areas, including Wisconsin.

The Lemonade Day Council team will again choose an Entrepreneur of the Year. Members will visit each location to score them on several categories including originality and creativity.

Each member of the winning stand will receive a trophy and $100 Walmart gift card.

The group or individual will then move on as a nominee for National Lemonade Day in Houston. If chosen, they will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Houston to accept the award.

Last year, more than 100 youth managed about 30 lemonade stands throughout the area.

The local lemonade stands generated $8,680 in revenue. They saved more than $1,700, shared more than $1,100 within the community and had a total profit of more than $5,800.

“This Lemonade Day program is working — these kids are seeing results,” Larson said, adding how it has also benefited many local non-profits the last two years.

In 2024, National Lemonade Day saw 59,470 registered participants nationwide whose stands took in $18.2 million — $9.9 million in profit, $3.3 million donated to charities and $5 million saved in banks and credit unions.

“This has a huge economic impact,” she said.

Lemonade Day’s national and local profit average for lemonade stands is about $200.

They have also seen a trend of more lemonade stands popping up across the states.

“It’s neat to see this whole Lemonade Day movement continue past our one-day event,” Larson said.

What has stood out the most over the past two years, she added, has been parents raving about the program.

The national program was started in 2007 in Houston, Texas, by Michael Holthouse, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. The idea for the national non-profit grew from his daughter hosting a lemonade stand to raise money to buy a turtle.

Larson found out about the program while traveling in Texas several years ago and was inspired to bring the learning program to the area.

Lemonade Day sponsors include Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union; First National Bank & Trust; LIUNA Local 1329; Dickinson Area Community Foundation, along with the Pasahow Family Fund Trust; Range Bank; Northern Interstate Bank and Iron Mountain-Kingsford Kiwanis Club.

“I appreciated all the support I received from my sponsors. We couldn’t do anything without them,” Larson said. “That’s one of the beautiful things about our community — everyone gets involved and I love it.”

Participants must go to the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce at 600 S. Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain to register and receive their workbook packets. All kids will receive a Lemonade Day T-shirt.

“Anyone who is reading or hearing about Lemonade Day is welcome to join us,” she said.

For more information on becoming an entrepreneur or to serve as a mentor, go to the Dickinson County Lemonade Day website at https://local.lemonadeday.org/dickinson-county-mi or call the chamber at 906-774-2002.