2024 Small Business Grant Winners
Winners of the Existing Business Category for the Warren County Small Business Grant Contest are (L to R) Stephanie Bintner and Nikki Huetter from Bellflower Florist (3rd Place), Eric & Leslie Held from Bob's Custom Trophies (1st Place), and Bob Fox from The Groggy Dog (2nd Place).
The Start Up Business Category winners shown are (L to R) Allyson Orwig from Orwig Dental (2nd Place), Patsy Taylor from The Kiln Room (3rd Place), and Nicci & Jeremy Whalen from Back Alley Bikes (1st Place).
Warren County Economic Development Corp. (WCEDC) is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Warren County Small Business Grant Contest which took place on Sept. 24, 2024, at SkyView Vineyard & Event Venue in Indianola. This year, a total of $19,000 was awarded to Warren County Businesses and the pitch-off event was filled with excitement and business growth ideas.
During the event, three start-up business finalists and three existing business finalists had the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas before a distinguished panel of judges. Each finalist had a brief but impactful ten minutes to present their business plans and persuade the judges of their vision.
The start-up business grant awards are as follows:
- 1st Place - Back Alley Bikes, Indianola - Nicci & Jeremy Whalen received $5,000
- 2nd Place - Orwig Dental Co., Indianola - Allyson Orwig received $2,500
- 3rd Place - The Kiln Room LLC, Carlisle - Patsy Taylor received $1,000
The existing business grant awards are as follows:
- 1st Place - Bob’s Custom Trophies, Indianola - Leslie & Eric Held received $6,000
- 2nd Place - The Groggy Dog, Indianola - Bob Fox received $3,000
- 3rd Place - Bellflower Florist & Gifts LLC, Norwalk - Nikki Heutter received $1,500
The judges faced a challenging task, as all six businesses had strong presentations with projects boosting the local economy and enhancing the area's offerings. This year’s Start-Up judging panel included Jennie Hargrove, Community & Economic Development Specialist, ISU Extension, Jenica Johnson - Regional Director for the Mid-Iowa SBDC, and Grace Grob, Economic Development Manager for the Greater Dallas County Development Alliance. Our Existing Business judging panel included Andrew Collings - Executive Director for Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance for Community Development (MIPA), Stacie LoVan - Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, and Kelly Mitchell - Business Consultant for DMACC Business Resources.
Rachel Gocken, Executive Director of Warren County Economic Development announced during the event that this year marks the 9th year that the The Warren County Small Business Grant Contest has given grants to small businesses in Warren County. To date, a total of $115,000 has been granted for integral projects to help foster local business growth.
WCEDC would like to extend its gratitude to the judges, participants, and attendees for their enthusiastic participation in this year's Small Business Grant Contest Pitch-Off Event as well as the organization’s investors who make this opportunity possible. This event is a vital part of the organization's ongoing commitment to fostering entrepreneurial endeavors, helping businesses level up, and driving economic prosperity in Warren County.
For more information about the Warren County Small Business Grant Contest and other initiatives by the Warren County Economic Development Corp., please visit www.wcedc.com.
