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OKO GREEN <br /> BUSINESS PLAN <br /> Executive Summary <br /> OKO Green is a social enterprise initiative designed to provide meaningful employment, skill <br /> development, and mentoring to at-risk youth participating in the Macon County Juvenile <br /> Redeploy Illinois(JRI)program.Through the operation and expansion of a lawn care and urban <br /> gardening business, OKO Green will support the reintegration of these young people into the <br /> community, reduce recidivism, and improve the overall quality of life for residents in the OKO <br /> neighborhood. By providing free or greatly reduced lawn care services for seniors and others in <br /> need, along with free or reduced-price crops grown in its urban gardens, OKO Green will <br /> contribute to the overall well-being and cohesion of the community. <br /> With funding from the JRI grant and other sources,the program will offer an initial cohort of <br /> youth the opportunity to work 15-20 hours per week for eight weeks(June -August 2023), <br /> earning both cash payments and contributions to a savings account, as detailed in the payment <br /> plan provided. This innovative approach to compensation will not only provide the participants <br /> with immediate income, but also encourage long-term financial planning and stability. In <br /> addition to learning life skills related to lawn maintenance, the participants will learn all aspects <br /> of how to own and operate a small business, from financial budgeting to marketing and sales. <br /> OKO Green Program Overview <br /> Old King's Orchard Community Center("OKO") is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization whose <br /> broadly stated mission is to provide a safe, healthy environment that offers opportunities for <br /> youth, adults,and families to improve their quality of life. We serve a part of our community that <br /> is often left behind. As much as possible, we believe in offering our participants a hand-up, as <br /> opposed to a hand-out. <br /> Launching in Summer 2023,the OKO Green initiative will employ JRI program participants to <br /> maintain approximately 40 vacant lots owned by OKO, the OKO sport field (when constructed), <br /> and provide free or greatly reduced lawn care services for seniors and others in need within the <br /> OKO community block. Under the supervision and guidance of OKO staff and mentors,the <br /> youth will gain valuable skills in lawn care, landscaping,equipment maintenance,time <br /> management, and business operations. <br /> In addition to traditional lawn maintenance duties, participants will have the opportunity to <br /> engage in urban gardening projects,transforming a portion of the vacant lots into productive <br /> green spaces growing wildflowers, pumpkins, okra, sod and/or other commercial crops.This will <br /> not only enhance the aesthetic appeal and environmental quality of the neighborhood but also <br /> generate revenue to support the ongoing sustainability of the OKO Green initiative. The attached <br /> Urban Gardening Planning Guide shall be strictly followed. <br /> EXHIBIT A <br />