Northwest Iowa — Four northwest Iowa entrepreneurs will get the chance this Thursday night to win a portion of $10,000 in prize money in The BIG Challenge grant competition. The BIG Challenge encourages entrepreneurs to Build, Innovate, and Grow their business in northwest Iowa.
Contest officials tell us it gives entrepreneurs and small business owners in Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury counties the opportunity to submit their dreams to start or expand a business, then encourage friends, family, and customers to vote for them online, which wrapped up on October 11th.
The finalists include AJ Vander Wall and Boss LLC of Rock Valley; Trevor Wheelock and Sizzle and Syrup of Sioux City; Abby Carter and CA Performance Horses and Marketing of Alvord; and Becca Heissel and Business Owners Advocate of Onawa. Each finalist will receive personalized coaching from the University of Northern Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.
The regional contest is this Thursday evening, November 21 in Le Mars at The Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor (115 Central Ave NW, Le Mars, IA 51031). Thursday evening, the finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas with first place receiving $5,000, second place receiving $3,000, third place receiving $2,000 to grow their business.
The BIG Challenge is sponsored and organized by Iowa’s West Coast Initiative, Northwest Iowa Developers, and Siouxland Economic Development Corporation, which includes the economic development organizations in the following counties: Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury. To learn about the contest rules or to enter the contest, please visit www.iawestcoast.com and click on “The BIG Challenge.”
