The Quad Cities Dream Big Grow Here Pitch-Off, hosted by Ignite Quad Cities, will be held Tuesday, December 10, 2013 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Modern Woodmen Park.
Fourteen local businesses submitted their dreams online in a competition for $5,000. Over 4,000 votes were cast by members of the public, and now seven entrepreneurs will pitch to a panel of local business people. The winner of the pitch-off will receive a $5,000 grant, and will be eligible to advance to the statewide competition to vie for an additional $10,000 grant.
See more about the program and interviews with the local businesses about thier proposals in the ‘more’ section
Dream Big Grow Here is a statewide initiative hosted in regions throughout Iowa, and is now in its third year. This is the first year the competition is being hosted in the Quad Cities. Pitch-off judges are Cathy Edwards, owner, Edwards Creative Services; Kelli Grubbs, President, VictoryStore.com; and Jim Thompson, CEO, Quad City Community Healthcare.
The competing businesses are:
Déjà vu Furniture & Accessories is a consignment shop in downtown Clinton established in August of 2009. One of the owners – Lou says here presentation will focus on an idea to grow downtown Clinton..
A second Clinton Business The Painted Rooster, a specialty boutique, was among the choices to make a presentation for the grant. The owners of The Painted Rooster would use the grant money as seed funding to purchase and remodel another potential downtown Clinton business. One of the owners Erin George says they want to start helping other start a business..
Lead statewide sponsor for Dream Big Grow Here 2013 is the Iowa Bankers Association. Other key sponsors for Dream Big Grow Here are a mix of private and public sector agencies, including the University of Northern Iowa MyEntre.Net, Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Economic Development Authority, VentureNet, Delta Dental of Iowa, and the Technology Association of Iowa.
Ignite Quad Cities is a community of entrepreneurs and business leaders with a vision to grow companies, jobs, and profits in the Quad Cities through a systematic path to growth, sales, and success.
