Junior Achievement of Saginaw County received their charter from JA Worldwide® in 1964. The local Saginaw Optimist Club was instrumental in bringing Junior Achievement to this area.  Early on, Junior Achievement provided only programs in Saginaw County.  In July of 1982, the County of Bay was added to the franchise.  In 1991, the name was changed to Junior Achievement of Northeast Michigan as the additional eleven counties were added. 

Junior Achievement was first started for high school students to learn how to organize a company, sell stock, select a product, manufacture a product, then liquidate the company.  In 1975 Junior Achievement began operating its first in-school programs in middle, or junior high school.  In 1977 an in-school high program was developed that became an actual curriculum for juniors and seniors.  This program is still operating today.  In 1981 the elementary school curriculum was developed as an in-school program.  Today this program accounts for approximately 72% of the students.  The growth of our Junior Achievement franchise over the last eight years has been phenomenal by going from 2,100 students in 1982 to 13,000 students in 2001. By 2006 we reached 13,000 students. Growth for 2007 should reach 13,500 students and for 2008 by reaching 14,000.