North Judson startups have just one more day to apply for a chance to win $10,000. Applications for the North Judson Business Pitch Competition are due to the Starke County Economic Development Foundation by tomorrow.
North Judson native Kirt Verhagen is helping to fund the competition. He told the town council last week that each competitor will prepare a business plan with help from the economic development foundation and then present it to a panel of judges on September 19. “We feel very encouraged about the response we’ve gotten so far,” Verhagen said. “I’m hopeful that this is only the first in a long line of annual business pitch competitions and that others, namely, local banks, for example, might take up that challenge of funding it in future years.”
The North Judson Business Pitch Competition is open to startup businesses less than three years old, as well as companies planning to expand or launch a new product or service line. The winner will get a $5,000 cash prize, plus another $5,000 if they successfully launch or grow a business in the North Judson area. Verhagen said prizes will also be awarded to the second- and third-place winners.
He said the goal is to bring new or expanded businesses into North Judson and ultimately improve the town’s quality of life. More details and application information can be found on the Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s website.
