JA BizTown holds grand opening in Owings Mills

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -  

The Junior Achievement Of Central Maryland has expanded their JA BIZTOWN Facility in Owings Mills. This year over 6,000 4th to 6th grade students from more than 80 schools will participate in this one of a kind financial literacy program that brings basic financial skills to young minds.

JA Biztown teaches kids how to make sound financial decisions, run companies, and avoid falling off the fiscal cliff.

Through it's 14 corporate areas built to form a city, students learn lessons they can use the rest of their lives.

A mayor is even selected and sworn in, and will oversee the days activities, Tyler Liberto has the honor for Severna Park Elementary School.

"It''s very busy and challenging but I like it," he said.

IKEA has donated over $13,000 for new furniture in the City Hall area and a new cafe featuring the always popular pizza for lunch.

Before Students arrive at Biztown they go through a three week training session at their school to prepare for the big day.

Emily Mathews says she is “learning how to write checks, deposit tickets, and take care of the banks, and take care of peoples’ money…Being a CFO and taking care of money is real fun."