Updates! Dream Big Grow Here

This post will be short, sweet & to the point. We have a few updates to share with you regarding our annual Dream Big Grow Here competition. The allotted submission period has been extended an extra week, allowing those of you who may have forgotten to enter a chance over the next couple of days to do so. Below is the new timeline of events:

Submissions are accepted from now until October 28th by 5 p.m.

From October 29th – November 12th, you all will be asked to visit here and vote for the business you believe is worthy of the award.

The top 5 vote-getters will compete against one another in a pitch-off on November 19th to a panel of judges.

The winner will be announced on November 20th at the Iowa Lakes Corridor’s Business Recognition Luncheon.

This not only gives you a chance to gather your thoughts to enter into the contest, but gives those of you who have submitted already a chance to better your initial entry. This time can be used to add video, photos, etc. to the existing entry, or time to work on your marketing plan for the pitch-off. Either way, it’s a win-win. 

Here’s a refresher on the rules:

1. This is the 3rd DBGH competition for the Corridor. Entrepreneurs and business owners are invited to submit their business dreams here.

2. Submissions can be made in the form of video, text, pictures, or a combination of the three. Each entry should explain the business, its goals and why the contestant deserves to win.

3. The regional winner will receive $5,000 and will go on to compete at the state level for a chance at an additional $10,000.

4. Must have the following to qualify:

-0-30 employees, a for-profit business, residing in one of the Corridor’s counties (Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet).

Each region creates the rules for its respective competition. The Corridor is one region in Iowa hosting the DBGH contest. In our region, there are no age or industry restrictions; we work to create the next generation of successful entrepreneurs, with youth programs for all ages. Because of the our involvement with youth entrepreneurship, the competition will be open to everyone. For a compete listing of rules, click here.

So far, we have 13 submissions and room for plenty more! This would be a great opportunity for your business dreams to come true and to earn some extra cold, hard cash. I encourage all of you to partake in the DBGH process.

Check out the rest of our blog here!

- Alexa Guessford