Great Bend Economic Development launched a competition Friday that will result in one entrepreneur winning $50,000 to open/start a business in Barton County.
A total of $95,000 will be given away at the end of the IGNITE Rural Business competition, including $50,000 to the grand finale winner in October of 2023. Second place will be awarded $30,000 and third place gets $10,000, according to GBED President Sara Arnberger. Those following along the journey of the competition will vote online for the People’s Choice Award and award a business with $5,000.
New inventions/businesses are encouraged to apply as well as startups. This competition exists to empower, support, and cultivate entrepreneurs, sponsors stated in a GBED news release.
“Here in Barton County, we strive to champion creativity and innovative thinking and complement a project or idea with the tools, resources, and investment necessary to see it thrive. We aim for this competition to be the first of many efforts to continue that mission in a positive and impactful way.”
The competition provides participants with the opportunity for exposure of their business and assistance from local business professionals, as well as substantial prize money for three businesses. With an emphasis on bringing business to Barton County, the Ignite committee is partnering with NetworkKansas and the Small Business Development Center. NetworkKansas has facilitated the use of Venture Dash as the contestant portal. Venture Dash allows contestants to submit materials and track their progress. In addition to weighing in on the competition, both NetworkKansas and the Small Business Development Center connect contestants to mentors and assistance with their business plans.
The Ignite Rural Business competition launched last week in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week (www.genglobal.org).
For more information and local inspiration, GBED has interviewed some of Barton County’s entrepreneurs and posted those videos on the Great Bend Economic Development YouTube Channel, as well as @GBEDinc on TikTok.
How it works
In round one, all competitors submit the necessary materials through the Venture Dash platform. The link to the portal is on the GBED website, gbedinc.com.
In round two, the competition pool is narrowed. Businesses will be selected to engage in a one-on-one meeting with a business planning professional. To have viable businesses in the next round, each contestant will be paired with a local business mentor in a category of the contestant’s desire. Contestants will have a final Q&A with the Ignite team before the final five contestants are chosen for the live Ignite Finale event in October 2023.
• Startups are considered businesses less than five years old and with 10 or fewer employees.
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• The application deadline is June 30, 2023.
• Rules, eligibility requirements, guidelines, and applications are live and available on www.gbedinc.com/IGNITE.
• For more information about being a sponsor of the live event or becoming a business mentor, contact GBED staff at marketing@gbedinc.com or call 620-796-2407.
The finale
The live Ignite Rural Business competition finale on Oct. 5, 2023, will have participants pitching to a jury in front of a live audience at the Crest Theater in Great Bend. Then, the Ignite jury will conduct a Q&A session following every pitch.
“Ever heard of Shark Tank? Here’s our take on it,” Arnberger says in a GBED Youtube video.
Composed of experts from the private and/or public sectors with relevant business experience, the jury will base their decisions on innovation, creativity, long-term business strategy, and viability.
About GBED
The goal of Great Bend Economic Development is to sustain Barton county’s long-term economic health and vitality through the retention, expansion, and attraction of businesses and development that enhance property values, increase personal income, and positively contribute to the citizens’ quality of life of Barton County.
Great Bend Economic Development leads the charge in creating workforce initiatives to sustain our current employers as well as initiatives that will help to support new employers that move to the community. Employers and jobseekers are encouraged to reach out to GBED with questions and concerns and GBED will either pair you up with a workforce partner to help you accomplish your goals, or work with you one-on-one to create solutions and positive outcomes. Together we will create a strong and sustainable workforce pipeline that will enable us to continue to grow Barton County.
