By : Star Courier
Source : http://www.starcourier.com
Category : Small Business Grant
Several area organizations are inviting entrepreneurs young and old to “pitch” their ideas for inventions or businesses in what’s being called a “Fast-Pitch” event.
The sessions will be held April 17 at Black Hawk East College’s Community Education Center at 404 E. Third Street in Kewanee.
A panel of judges from the business and investment communities will offer entrepreneurs 10-minute private sessions to make their pitch.
“Entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of the economy. They represent ideas, innovation, talent, organizational skills and risk,” said Joel Youngs of the Small Business Development Center, one of the groups helping to organize the upcoming competition.
“The vast majority of jobs in the U.S. are started by small business,” Youngs said. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs in Henry and Stark counties to achieve success and hopefully, in the long run, to spur the creation of new business and jobs in our local community.”
The team organizing the Fast Pitch includes the Kewanee Economic Development Corporation, Henry County Economic Development Partnership, Stark County Economic Development, Henry County Tourism, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Black Hawk College, University of Illinois Extension, City of Colona, City of Galva, Galva Economic Development Commission and Grant Consulting - Cambridge.
Event and prize sponsors include Regional Media, Midwest Intellectual Property Management Institute, Big River Resources, BCZ Consulting Engineers & Land Surveyors, B & B Printing, Community State Bank of Galva and Patriot Renewable Fuels.
They are inviting residents, business owners, high school and college students in Henry and Stark counties to share their ideas for new retail, manufacturing, technology, agriculture and other businesses, or their ideas to improve an existing business or retail.
Participants will have 10 minutes to “Pitch” their idea for a business, retail or invention that would be developed in Henry or Stark Counties to the judges during individual, confidential sessions for a chance to win cash, prizes, in-kind radio advertising from Regional Media, and professional consultation advice from members of the Midwest Intellectual Property Management Institute (IPI) who will help them learn what it takes to advance their ideas into reality.
There will be four areas applicants may enter:
- Retail: seeking innovative plans for a new retail store or ways to improve an existing one;
- Non-retail: seeking innovative plans for a new or improved business in such areas as agriculture, technology, manufacturing and other non-retail. Winners of these first two categories will receive a prize package valued at over $30,000 that includes cash, business, technical and product commercialization consultations from the Midwest IP Institute and a $25,000 in-kind radio campaign from Regional Media.
- Got an Idea: seeking novel business idea or invention from an adult 18 and over;
- Student: seeking entries from Henry and Stark Counties high school and college students who have a novel idea for a new business or invention. Winners of these two categories will each receive a new ipad, a $400 tuition waiver to Black Hawk College’s SBDC certification program, advice from business, technical and product commercialization consultants. The Got An Idea winner will also receive a $25,000 in-kind radio campaign from Regional Media and the Student winner will receive a “Street Sense Marketing Bootcamp” opportunity.
Entry requirements include attending the Fast Pitch Find out Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Community Education Center. This informational meeting will help participants learn what a Fast Pitch is and all that is involved in entering the competition.
RSVPs are appreciated by Friday, Feb. 17, though walk-ins are accepted.
At the meeting, attendees will receive applications that must be filled out and returned to University of Illinois Extension by March 1 in order to be considered for the competition. Approved applicants will have the opportunity to participate in a Mock Fast Pitch on March 20.
Source : http://www.starcourier.com/news/x690035271/Your-idea-could-win-you-prizes
Source : http://www.starcourier.com
Category : Small Business Grant
Several area organizations are inviting entrepreneurs young and old to “pitch” their ideas for inventions or businesses in what’s being called a “Fast-Pitch” event.
The sessions will be held April 17 at Black Hawk East College’s Community Education Center at 404 E. Third Street in Kewanee.
A panel of judges from the business and investment communities will offer entrepreneurs 10-minute private sessions to make their pitch.
“Entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of the economy. They represent ideas, innovation, talent, organizational skills and risk,” said Joel Youngs of the Small Business Development Center, one of the groups helping to organize the upcoming competition.
“The vast majority of jobs in the U.S. are started by small business,” Youngs said. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs in Henry and Stark counties to achieve success and hopefully, in the long run, to spur the creation of new business and jobs in our local community.”
The team organizing the Fast Pitch includes the Kewanee Economic Development Corporation, Henry County Economic Development Partnership, Stark County Economic Development, Henry County Tourism, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Black Hawk College, University of Illinois Extension, City of Colona, City of Galva, Galva Economic Development Commission and Grant Consulting - Cambridge.
Event and prize sponsors include Regional Media, Midwest Intellectual Property Management Institute, Big River Resources, BCZ Consulting Engineers & Land Surveyors, B & B Printing, Community State Bank of Galva and Patriot Renewable Fuels.
They are inviting residents, business owners, high school and college students in Henry and Stark counties to share their ideas for new retail, manufacturing, technology, agriculture and other businesses, or their ideas to improve an existing business or retail.
Participants will have 10 minutes to “Pitch” their idea for a business, retail or invention that would be developed in Henry or Stark Counties to the judges during individual, confidential sessions for a chance to win cash, prizes, in-kind radio advertising from Regional Media, and professional consultation advice from members of the Midwest Intellectual Property Management Institute (IPI) who will help them learn what it takes to advance their ideas into reality.
There will be four areas applicants may enter:
- Retail: seeking innovative plans for a new retail store or ways to improve an existing one;
- Non-retail: seeking innovative plans for a new or improved business in such areas as agriculture, technology, manufacturing and other non-retail. Winners of these first two categories will receive a prize package valued at over $30,000 that includes cash, business, technical and product commercialization consultations from the Midwest IP Institute and a $25,000 in-kind radio campaign from Regional Media.
- Got an Idea: seeking novel business idea or invention from an adult 18 and over;
- Student: seeking entries from Henry and Stark Counties high school and college students who have a novel idea for a new business or invention. Winners of these two categories will each receive a new ipad, a $400 tuition waiver to Black Hawk College’s SBDC certification program, advice from business, technical and product commercialization consultants. The Got An Idea winner will also receive a $25,000 in-kind radio campaign from Regional Media and the Student winner will receive a “Street Sense Marketing Bootcamp” opportunity.
Entry requirements include attending the Fast Pitch Find out Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Community Education Center. This informational meeting will help participants learn what a Fast Pitch is and all that is involved in entering the competition.
RSVPs are appreciated by Friday, Feb. 17, though walk-ins are accepted.
At the meeting, attendees will receive applications that must be filled out and returned to University of Illinois Extension by March 1 in order to be considered for the competition. Approved applicants will have the opportunity to participate in a Mock Fast Pitch on March 20.
Source : http://www.starcourier.com/news/x690035271/Your-idea-could-win-you-prizes
