Rock Rapids, Iowa — A finalist for the Dream Big Grow Here contest has dropped out. And that means that another contestant from our area has made the finals.
According to Lyon County Economic Development Director Steve Simons, former finalist “Gnarly Pepper” from Sioux City has decided to drop out of the contest. That created an opportunity for the former sixth-place contestant, SnS Labz of Rock Rapids to move up to a finalist slot. Fifteen-year-old entrepreneurs Daniel Stillson of Rock Rapids and Carter Schuurmans of Prior Lake, MN, are the owners and operators of the company.
Simons says the two high school freshmen students are currently focused on utilizing 3-D printing technology to produce products for the growing market sector known as “eSports”. As their business has grown, they applied for the Dream Big Grow Here grant to purchase multiple 3-D printers so that customer orders can be processed more efficiently and quickly.
The other finalists remain:
– Lefty Leigh’s and Cassens’ Catering from Oto (Heath and Kari Cassens)
– JAK Sprat from Sanborn (Jodi Krikke)
– Heartland Coffee & Nosh from Correctionville (Stacy Orndorff)
– Joyency from Sioux City (Josh Cobbs)
The economic development organizations in northwest Iowa will host the pitch-off event on Thursday, November 15th at the Crossroads Pavilion Event Center in Sheldon. A social hour with food and beverages will begin at 5:00 p.m. During this time, each finalist will have a booth set up to showcase their business for attendees to visit. At 6:00 p.m. each finalist will have 6 minutes to present their business, followed by 5 minutes of Q & A from the panel of judges. The winners of the competition will be announced at 7:30 p.m. with first place receiving $4,000, second place receiving $2,000 and third place receiving $1,000 to grow their businesses.
