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One sunny April afternoon, the First Community Bank in Red Bank was bustling with hopeful new business owners. They’d written their business plans, completed their loan applications and now waited to meet with loan evaluation team members. While scenes like this take place every day, these entrepreneurs were all under the age of 18 and taking part in Lemonade Day Lexington, a free community-wide financial educational initiative designed to teach children how to start, own and operate a business.

According to Lemonade Day Lexington city director Alene Willingham, the First Community team met with 22 businesses on April 9, 2025. Each child or team of children hoped to secure a $30 loan to fund a lemonade stand which will be part of the Lemonade Day Festival on May 3 from 10am to 2pm at the Icehouse Pavilion in Lexington.

“These days, kids grow so quickly,” says Alene. “Lemonade Day Lexington teaches young children business skills like how to earn money and be their own boss. Plus, through the program, they meet other children from all walks of life.” Many applicants are shy at first but sharing their ideas gets them excited and talking, says commercial banker Elizabeth Middleton.

Lemonade Day Lexington activities last from January through June each year and includes app-based learning modules plus special in-person events like Loan Day and Lemon Tank, when businesses pitch their plans highlighting innovation, marketing and finance. The business loans — which were evaluated by Elizabeth Middleton, office manager Giesela Heinly, community development officer Kena Dill and marketing specialist Hunter Cole — are real and parents co-sign. While applicants offer collateral like bicycles and gaming consoles against their loan, all 170 Lemonade Day Lexington past participants have repaid their loans in full — plus one dollar in interest. Any business profits after loan repayment belong to the business owner minus a portion that will be donated to a local nonprofit per the program’s guidelines.

Sunshine Lemonade, a team of five children from age 2 to 11, was the 2024 winner and is back for the 2025 competition. Each team member has a responsibility from product to customer service.

“Just like we love to see our small business bank customers grow and succeed, it’s wonderful to see these young business owners achieve their dream no matter the age,” said Elizabeth. “That’s something that sets us apart from other banks.”