STERLING – The Sterling area is in the running for a Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities program, which teaches high school students how to start businesses.

The CEO board will decide by mid-December whether the program will come to the Sauk Valley in fall 2013, said Craig Lindvahl, executive director of Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship, which is funded by Midland States Bank.

Before the program can launch, though, 20 to 30 investors are needed. Three or four are considering investing so far, said Theresa Wittenauer, economic development coordinator with the Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council.