A small business grant contest for existing businesses and start-up businesses in Warren County. Sponsored by Learn|Grow|Succeed, a collaborative effort to provide small business services and education to businesses and entrepreneurs.

Two Categories of Prizes:

• $6,000 Prize:  Existing Business
• $3,000 Prize: Start-up Business/Idea

Contest Timeline

• Entries accepted August 10th through Midnight on Monday, September 14th.
• Finalists notified Friday, September 18th
• Finalists' presentations and grant event will be held at Simpson College from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9th.

Finalists:

Three finalists in each category will be selected based on scoring of entry applications and overall description. Each finalist will have 10 minutes to present in front of a panel of judges on Friday, October 9th. You can use Power Point or any other visual method of a presentation. Be creative; sell yourself, your product/service, and your business idea. The judges will need to understand why you need the money and how it will make your idea/product/service and business more successful. This event will be open to the public so invite your friends and family to support you and cheer you on!

Business investors may be in the audience so even if you don’t win the grant prize, you may pique the interest of someone in the audience.

Grants will be awarded at the end of the event.

Existing Business Criteria

• Less than 10 full time employees
• Must have at least 2 full time employees (can include the owner(s))
• A physical commercial location is not required to apply, but businesses that do have an exisitng commercial location will be scored higher. You will need to explain how you plan to have a physical location within the next twelve months in order to capture points in this category
• Business must be located in Warren County

Start-up Business Criteria

• Future business must be located in Warren County
• Must plan to open a commercial location within two years
• Must plan to have at least two full-time employee (can include the owner(s)) within three years

When to apply

Applicants may submit their entries through this site August 10th - September 14th.

Contest applications will be scored on the following:

• How funds will be used
• Business description and mission
• Products and services
• Market potential and competition
• Marketing and sales
• Operations and Management
• financials

Apply Now!