Grand Island Big Idea 2025

GreatCents Big Idea TRU

Here is what the people said:

"GreatCents for a clear, concise, and organized presentation."

"As a teacher, I appreciated the idea behind GreatCents. I know it’s something that would greatly impact our students and their families in Grand Island."

"Blake wanting to teach kids about money so they can someday afford the ideas being pitched."

"GreatCents because he really knew his business and seemed the most ready out of all the candidates. But they all did great!!"

"The teacher with great cents financial literacy. Great presentation and wide audience appeal."

"GreatCents Working for a purpose and something for the greater good of our society. Food is amazing but this is next level"

"Greatcents.ORG, they have such a great ideas and can not help with but save many peoples lives and livelihoods"

"GreatCents, he was my teacher 13 yrs! And it truly was the first time I heard about managing money and being responsible. Changed the trajectory of my life."

"Greatcent.org!!! Education will always be impactful to the community."

"The book idea guy, most impactful to community"

"Blake! I love his passion for children and finance! It was such a great idea!"

Welcome to GreatCents!

You just stumbled into a treasure chest, this site is loaded with resources for your child and for you!

My name is Blake Teichmeier and I am the creator of this organization and I am competing in the Big Idea Competition in Grand Island, NE.

The format of the competition is like the show, "Shark Tank", where I will have 2 minutes to give a pitch for why my business should receive the prize money. Here you can find a much more detailed plan for how my business will better Grand Island and from here the rest of the world.

My BIG IDEA!

My business GreatCents will publish a curriculum that helps upper‐elementary and middle school students master personal finance and social-emotional learning.

It is called Galactic Growth and it is an adventure story that flys through the topics of Personal Finance and Social Emotional Learning.

The books connect with people because they line up our real experiences. Our minds and our money shapes how we experience life and caring for them is essential!

Each of the books are based on national standards.

Earning & Self-Awareness

Spending, Saving & Responsible Decision Making

Investing & Social Awareness

Credit & Relationship Skills

Risk & Self-Management

We owe it to our children and our community to learn the basics of how to manage our money and ourselves.

Will you join me today?

I was able to present about this at the Learn On Conference held by Everfi. If you want a detailed explanation of what is covered please check it out!

Target Market

Families

“Only 22% of parents are “completely confident” in their ability to teach their children the basics of investing, according to a new SIFMA Foundation survey.”

Parents want their children to be financially successful, yet it's hard to teach something they don’t feel well versed in themselves.

I have heard numerous adults over the years say, “I wish I had that class when I was in school.” Now you actually can!

This is a great series to go through together, a launch point for key conversations. A non judgemental way to learn together, getting kids educated and interested in the world of money!

Teachers

“83% of respondents say their state should require a semester- or year-long course focused on personal finance for high school graduation.”

This is a growing field and now is the time to provide tried and tested resources!

I started teaching in 2013 at Walnut Middle School and we were one of the first financial literacy classes in our state.

Teachers will want this because of a need for curriculum that is standards based and engaging. I provide books and lessons in multiple forms: digital and with the help of the Big Idea in physical form.

Mentors

“Our new findings provide robust evidence and a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of SEL: positive effects that matter for student success in the short and long term..."

Grand Island boasts a number of great mentorship programs. This book series provides a guide for helping kids navigate the hard work of mastering their inner and outer worlds.

Through this mentors will have a framework to talk about things like self-management or relationships skills.

The series is filled with questions to reflect on your own personal journey. Celebrating both what brings us together in unity and the diversity that makes everyone unique.

Home Schools

For many homeschool families every dollar matters. The best programs costs way too much (for a single family) and the free ones are often too simple (not very engaging).

This book series is affordable and fun. Parents will take joy hearing their kids ask practial things about money and their family.

Public Schools

Here in Grand Island we are using this series (digital form) with all three public middle schools.

I daily see the way students make connections with their real lives.

Public education is one of the huge assets of Grand Island. Winning the Big Idea I will be able to write additional books for younger and older students.

Private Schools

I believe that private schools would find this book series to be extremely helpful. Through winning the Big Idea I would be able to provide a physical option for schools.

This content fits perfectly into any private school experience as the concepts of money management and taking care of oneself line up with healthy religious views.

Start Up Cost

GreatCents.org has been a bootstrap organization from its beginning (self-funded).

However, at this point additional funding would allow me to grow in a way that could vastly expand my ability to help others. I will share some of the costs that I foresee in GreatCents future!

GC Big Idea Costs

GC Big Idea Profits

Timeline

Here is the timeline of how I would produce my book series, should I win the Big Idea competition:

December

2025

Publish digitally and in print

First 4 Books

January

2026

Finish and publish 5th book in series

Where Credit is Due

June

2026

Finish and publish 6th book in series

Reading the Room

November

2026

Finish final book in the series

"Untitled"

January

2027

Release full book series as a set Box Set

June

2027

Possibly start series for young readers

Competition

Dave Ramsey

Financial Peace University is a program that walks students through topics like:

Budgeting, Debt, Emergency Fund, Investing, Insurance and Biblical Values.

Cost: $100

Ramsey Solutions

What sets us apart:
We span a wider range of personal finance topics and tie them into social emotional areas. Our books try to approach dozens of topics from a variety of views.

Everfi

Everfi is a website that provides free online curriculum for all ages. They have engaging lessons that cover topics like: Financial Education, STEM, History, Workforce Readiness and Health & Wellness.

Cost: Free

Everfi

What sets us apart:

We offer a curriculum that is both digital and physical. Many parents are leery of the amount of screen time students are having. Through winning the BIG IDEA, we would be able to provide a tactile experience that grounds students in the real world.

Second Step

A program that helps students walk through different Social Emotional Learning topics such as: Empathy, Problem Solving, Goal Setting, Mindset & Motivation, Friendship & Relationships and much more.

Cost: $1,179

Second Step

What sets us apart: Our book series addresses each of these Social Emotional topics in a way that is family friendly and when incorporated with personal finance more hands on. Social Emotional Learning needs to be accessible for all at an affordable price.

Local Impact

So why Grand Island? Our Community!

On our Grand Island Community Profile it presents the reason why I should win the Big Idea.

53,131 reasons why!

Every single person is Grand Island could benefit from learning more about taking care of their Mental Health and their Personal Finances. Whether Left, Right or Center we can all agree that better financial responsiblity leads to better business. Whether Young, Middle-Aged or Old we can all agree that taking care of ourselves leads to better lives. This book series is meant to bring families together and help our coming generations build an even better Grand Island.

29.3% is why!

One thing that I love about where I live is the diversity that we celebrate as a community. In Hall County 29.3% of our population is made up of ethnic minorities. This population has historically missed out on opportunities because of lack of access. "Decreasing racial wealth gaps will take time, but a key factor is ensuring communities of color have access to financial literacy classes. Having a basic understanding of our financial system, the effects of debt, and how to build wealth, would benefit all students, but especially students of color. (NEA)" We have a responsibility to give the children of our city the chance to succeed financially. The early they start to be engaged with their money management the more likely they will make wise money decisions in their future.

The Good Life District is why!

Grand Island is growing! It is an exciting time to be a part of this community. With all these new buildings and businesses we need a consumer base that is responsible and we need a workforce that is intelligent.

Think of the amount of risk that is held within our city because of poor money management.

Think of the number of lost work hours because of employees that don't have the tools to deal with inner stress.

Let's give people the option to pick up the resources to improve their lives today.

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