2012 - Year of the Entrepreneur Programs

News article in SurfKY.com dated March 21, 2012

HOPKINSVILLE, KY (3/21/12) – Anyone who is considering starting a business in Christian County now has a little extra incentive to make it happen. The vision plan Christian County Cares 2015 is offering a business plan competitionto help bring your dreams into reality.

The competition, which was launched earlier in March, is designed to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and greater awareness of the resources available to grow entrepreneurs in Christian County. Jennifer Patterson is the Research and Project Coordinator for Christian County Cares 2015. She says, “We just want to encourage people who maybe have been thinking about starting a business for a while, but just need that extra push or maybe that extra support.”

The deadline to enter the competition is Monday, March 26. Patterson says the entry form is simply one-page and can be completed in just a few minutes. After that, help will be provided in developing your plan. On April 4 an Orientation/Business Plan Workshop will be held. Business plans are due by April 30.

Patterson says assistance will also be offered May 2 to help entrepreneurs learn how to share their vision through a Business Pitch Workshop. This will be followed by a Business Pitch Round on May 15 at the Hopkinsville Community College. The winner will be announced at the Chamber Annual Dinner on June 7. Patterson says all of the finalists will be invited to the dinner and given special recognition during the evening.

There is a $5,000 grand cash prize that will go to the winner along with nearly $4,000 dollars in professional startup services such as legal assistance, logo design, business cards, web page design and full membership to the Chamber. Patterson says that all those who participate will benefit from the associations gained through the competition, “That’s one of the key values to this competition is that you’re getting opportunities to network and you’re getting opportunities to get feedback from these business development professionals and other entrepreneurs on your business idea.”

To review the competition rules you can visit http://entrepreneur.christiancountychamber.com. For more information contact Jennifer Patterson at 270-885-9096 or email jpatterson@hopkinsvillechamber.com

David Bryant
SurfKY News

Proclamation announcing the "Year of the Entrepreneur"