2023 Warren County Small Business Grant Contest Winners Announced
1st Place Existing Grant Recipients Morgan Christowski & Amy MItchell from Copper + Fringe Beauty Co receive their $6,000 grant check from judges (Left to Right) Kelly Mitchell, Stacie LoVan and Andrew Collings.
Warren County Economic Development Corp. (WCEDC) is excited to announce the winners of the 2023 Warren County Small Business Grant Contest which took place on October 3, 2023, 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, camaraderie, and the potential for meaningful business collaborations.
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 were as follows:
- Staging Sisters (Indianola) received $5,000 for 1st Place
- 2Brothers Mexican Food (Carlisle) received $2,500 for 2nd Place
- Pipsy's Wee Care (Indianola) received $1,000 for 3rd Place
The existing business grant awards were as follows:
- Copper + Fringe Beauty Co (Indianola) received $6,000 for 1st Place
- Pete's Pizza (Indianola) received $3,000 for 2nd Place
- Magnolia Connection (Norwalk) received $1,500 for 3rd Place
1st Place Start-Up Grant Recipients Rachelle Gaul & Sara Short from Staging Sisters receive their $5,000 grant check from judges (Left to Right) Diana Wright, Melissa Chavas-Miller and Jenica Johnson.
The judges faced a challenging task, as all six businesses presented strong projects that will be instrumental in boosting the local economy and enhancing the area's offerings. This year’s Start-Up judging panel included Melissa Chavas-Miller - Business Solutions Consultant for DMACC Business Resources, Jenica Johnson - Regional Director for the Mid-Iowa SBDC, and Diana Wright - Startup Community Builder for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Our Existing Business judging panel included Andrew Collings - Principal Planner for Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance, Stacie LoVan - Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, and Kelly Mitchell - Business Consultant for DMACC Business Resources. Jenica Johnson, Regional Director for the Mid-Iowa SBDC, expressed her admiration for the high level of presentations and WCEDC’s commitment to hosting and funding this event each year which is unique to the metro and region.
2nd Place Existing Grant Recipient Sami Amos from Pete's PIzza receives her grant check for $3,000 from judges (Left to Right) Kelly Mitchell, Stacie LoVan and Andrew Collings.
WCEDC would like to extend its gratitude to the judges, participants, and attendees for their support and enthusiastic participation in this year's Small Business Grant Contest Pitch-Off Event. 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.
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About Warren County Economic Development Corp.
Warren County Economic Development Corp. is a leading organization dedicated to promoting business growth, supporting entrepreneurship, and driving economic development in Warren County. Through collaborative partnerships and strategic initiatives, the corporation strives to create a vibrant and sustainable business environment that enhances the quality of life for all residents.
