ENGLEWOOD — Local small business owners and entrepreneurs can compete for a total of $40,000 in cash prizes through a business competition.
Officials with the “Englewood Quality of Life Business Plan Competition” are encouraging people to apply. There will be an info session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew's Temple, 6722 S. Hermitage Ave.
The competition is for those who have business ideas for Englewood. The $40,000 will be divided among multiple businesses.
The competition is presented by the Englewood Quality of Life Plan Jobs and Economic Development Task Force in collaboration with the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce.
“This is an opportunity for fledging businesses to ramp-up their game and receive excellent supportive services in addition to having an opportunity to win BIG cash prizes to advance their business,” said Perry Gunn, executive director of Teamwork Englewood. "We seek the best talent with the brightest new ideas from the community to help create a vibrant and sustainable business district in the heart of Englewood.”
The task force and chamber will identify emerging businesses that will help Englewood's business district thrive once again.
A selection committee, made up of local business leaders and educators, will work with the task force to evaluate applicant submissions. Finalists will participate in a pitch competition on Dec. 14 that will be open to the public and will feature a blue ribbon panel of judges. Co-CEO of Whole Foods, Walter Robb, is the lead sponsor and originator of the competition.
In January business partners Lesley Roth and Steve Marchese were awarded a $10,000 grant to help fund their craft brewery and taproom. The two pitched “Englewood Brews” during the Englewood Quality of Life Business Plan Competition in December and took first place. A total of 31 applied, but only nine participated in the final pitch contest.
