[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION REGION III YOUNG 
               ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR, MR. CHRIS SIDICK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARK S. CRITZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual who 
exemplifies a young, ambitious entrepreneur, Chris Sidick, who was 
recently honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  Mr. Chris Sidick is the sole managing member of C-Side Sports 
Academy, LLC, located in Washington County, PA. This young entrepreneur 
began playing minor league baseball after college and was left with no 
income during the off season. With the encouragement of a fan, Mr. 
Sidick began training young players when he wasn't playing during the 
summer. Using his parents' garage and a $700 investment in a batting 
cage he started his own training business.
  Mr. Sidick soon took his business from a few kids to almost fifty. He 
had to move the facility out of his parents' garage and rent a space 
that cost him $1,000 per month. Realizing that this investment was just 
the beginning, Mr. Sidick solicited the University of Pittsburgh Small 
Business Development Center to assist him in developing a business plan 
and renting a larger space.
  Utilizing a credit line, bargaining power, ingenuity, and hard work, 
Mr. Sidick was able to create a new 13,000 square foot facility to 
train young athletes. This exceptional space became quickly utilized by 
many colleges, high schools, and youth teams. While his business 
practices were extremely successful, Mr. Sidick wanted more for his 
company. He wanted to offer greater space and services to the young 
athletes. This is why he reformulated his business plan to get a $1 
million bank loan and build a brand new facility.
  Mr. Sidick has been able to transform his initial $700 investment in 
his parents' garage into a soon-to-be completed 27,000 square foot 
facility that will house a full-size baseball infield and a half-dozen 
batting cages. The building will also offer additional sports such as 
football, soccer, and laser tag. His accomplishments have landed him 
the local and regional Young Entrepreneur of the Year award from the 
Small Business Administration.
  It is the keen mind of young people like Mr. Sidick that we can rely 
on to keep our economy going. He saw a need for a service, and utilized 
his specific skill set to fill that void. Even in this tough economic 
time, Mr. Sidick has been able to keep his business thriving. It is the 
passion for what he does and the energy he puts in his business that 
makes it successful.
  Mr. Speaker, I would once again like to honor Mr. Sidick--a true 
young entrepreneur and small business owner who has pursued an idea 
that helps so many of our young people.

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