In an event unlike our area has ever seen, the contest “Concept to Company” will crown its first-ever winner for best business/entrepreneurial idea March 29. The contest, held at USU Eastern, is open to the community as well as to college students.
“As far as I know this is the first time this type of contest has been held in our area,” said Russell Goodrich, one of many contest coordinators. “We wanted to hold a small contest to begin a new emphasis on new ventures and innovation and lay the groundwork for other efforts in the future.”
Goodrich doesn’t want the phrase “small contest” to deter anyone from entering the contest in the future.
“As mentioned, this was planned to be a small contest, but we hope to hold a much larger contest in the future that will have a wider impact,” he said.
The contest deadline was scheduled for March 20. However, theВ deadline wasВ extended for those on spring break at Eastern. Goodrich explained that this was to offer a couple of extra days to submit entries for the contest.
The winners will be presented March 29 at “Crowd Pitch” from 10-2 p.m. inВ Eastern’s Jennifer Leavitt Student Center and is free to the public.
“There has been a support from a lot of groups in the community,” Goodrich said. “ThereВ will certainly be good outcomes from the current contest and certainlyВ for some of the winners, but the larger benefits will likely occur asВ we form new partnerships and create new traditions.”
Awards for the contest are as follows:
Community Winner (with proof of Business License)
$1000 Start Up Money
$5000 Guaranteed Loan
6 Months Free Office Space
FREE 2013 Chamber of Commerce membership and a page ad in 2013 Chamber directory
Additional Business Advice and Support Services
$1000 Marketing/Advertising Assistance (with Match)
Student Winner
$1000 Scholarship to USU Eastern
A new iPad
Sponsors for the event are: The Department of Workforce Services,В Price City, USU Eastern, The Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, GrowВ Utah Ventures, BTAC, Carbon County Economic Development, the SBDC andВ BEAR Program.
To date, Concept to Company Contests have helped launch over 75 Utah Companies and awarded over $500,000.
Check back with etv10news.com for the winners of the event.