The Vermilion Chamber Foundation has awarded its first Young Entrepreneur Grant to 7-year-old Luca Cammarata. The $250 grant supports his business, Luca’s Candy Cartel, which operates candy vending machines.
Luca manages the business with guidance from his father, Vito Cammarata, who handles administrative and legal tasks. The young entrepreneur maintains the machines and intends to use the grant money to purchase additional units to scale his operations.
His interest in business started through his family’s involvement at West River Paddle Sports. There, he gained practical experience cleaning equipment and interacting with customers.
In addition to receiving the grant, Luca donated a gumball machine to the chamber office to encourage community participation. The award highlights his work ethic and early commitment to building a business. He is preparing to enter second grade this year.