ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Create Our Future and the Community Improvement Corp. of Belmont County invite Belmont County youth, first grade through high school seniors, to submit essays about the future of Belmont County for an opportunity to win prizes.

The deadline is Oct. 30.

Thanks to contest sponsors, first, second and third place winners will be selected in each of the divisions: Grades 1-4, Grades 5-8, and Grades 9-12. First place winners in each division will receive $300; second place winners in each division will receive $200, and third place winners in each division will receive $100. Sponsors include: East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, PNC Bank, EQT, Joe’s Tire, the Flower Gardens and Belmont County Treasurer Katherine Kelich.

All essays must be typed (parents/guardians, please help submit answers for the younger kids) and emailed to crystal@createourfuture.net. They should be in 12-point font with lines double-spaced. Type your name, grade and school at the top of the page.

Students in grades 9-12, please answer the following: What type of business, activity or recreation would you like to develop in Belmont County that would make you and other people stay or return to the area? Based on your answer, explain what type of role, if any, you would like to have in this kind of development. Answers should be no longer than three pages.

Students in grades 5-8 should answer the following: What would you like your community to be like by the year 2050, and what will you do to help make it happen? Be sure to tell us the name of your community. Answers should be no longer than two pages.

Students in grades 1-4 should answer: What do you like the most about the area you live in and explain why you like it. This can be the town you live in or a nearby town, a specific place or a specific activity. Answers should be no longer than two pages.

“We look forward to hearing the thoughts and creativity of the students,” said Crystal Lorimor, executive director of the Community Improvement Corp. of Belmont County. “We want our youth to stay here, but we rarely ask them their thoughts and ideas. We are trying to change that. We want them to feel engaged in their communities and that they can help build the future they want.”