Junior Achievement of the Midlands — JA Finance Park, JA BizTown & Career Programs

About This Opportunity

Junior Achievement of the Midlands (JA Midlands) delivers in-school financial literacy, career exploration, and entrepreneurship programs to students across the Omaha metro area — including Council Bluffs schools — through a network of volunteer business educators. JA programs are school-based and free to participating students. Key programs include: JA BizTown (grades 4–6) — a hands-on simulated town where students run banks, restaurants, and stores; JA Finance Park (grades 7–9) — a realistic personal finance simulation where students create personal budgets and make real-world financial decisions; and JA Inspire (high school) — career exploration connecting students with local employers, industry professionals, and career pathway information. JA Finance Park is arguably the most impactful financial literacy program available to middle school students in the Omaha metro — it teaches budgeting, net income vs. gross income, housing costs, transportation costs, insurance, and savings in a hands-on way that students remember. Spanish language support is available for JA BizTown. Schools request JA programs through JA Midlands — students participate through their school. JA also hosts the JA Inspire career exploration event open to high school students from the metro.

Who Can Apply

FREE for participating students. JA programs are delivered in schools — students participate through their school if the school has requested a JA program. Parents, students, and teachers can advocate for JA programs at their school by contacting midlands.ja.org. Some JA events (like JA Inspire) may be open to students beyond participating schools — check midlands.ja.org for current events open to the public.