Small Business Investment Forum
Local entrepreneurs have a chance to compete for funding, free space and mentoring through the 2012 Small Business Investment Forum business plan competition. Sponsors for this year's program include City of Martinsville, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Triangle Electric Corporation, West Piedmont Business Development Center and the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division.
The competition consists of two rounds, with Round One being the review of each applicant's business plan by a panel of judges. Round Two of the competition begins after the judges select the best business plans and mentors are assigned to the business owner to assist with refining the business plan and preparing an oral presentation. Judges will then select winners and assign mentors to work with them over the next year.
2011 SBIF winner Bob Tuggle, owner of Tuggle Farms, stated "The SBIF grant process, including the work, training and mentoring that accompanied it, provided an important perspective to my business ideas. With the award, I've been able to acquire equipment and services that otherwise wouldn't have been available to me so early in the business cycle."
Another winning participant, Walt Shaw of Waltondesign, touted "The SBIF competition helped me with clarity in starting my business. The guidance by the EDC team was very valuable in assisting to structure a business plan."
Interested applicants must be located in Martinsville or Henry County and be a for-profit start-up or a business in operation less than three years as of the application deadline, April 12th.
Click here for details and for the application. Applications will only be accepted online at the following link - http://temp.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/upload.home. All application materials must be submitted by 4pm on April 12, 2012.
Assistance with writing business plans is available by contacting Lisa Fultz, Director of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division or one of our community's small business resources.
Sponsor links:
City of Martinsville
Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce
Triangle Electric Corporation
Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division
West Piedmont Business Development Center
Other contributing partners:
Mervyn and Virginia King (Space Donation)
West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board (Training Award)
