Iowa Entrepreneurs compete for $5,000 and a chance for another $10,000 at DreamBigGrowHere.Com

Good Afternoon!

Things are jumping in Iowa this month!  As many of you know,  the University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center (RBC) developed a partnership with the Iowa Bankers Association and the Community Vitality Center in mid-2010 to launch Dream Big Grow Here -an online entrepreneur contest featuring $1,000 monthly grants awarded online to emerging and existing Iowa small business owners who uploaded their ‘dreams’, then encouraged customers, family and other business owners to vote for them.

Dream Big Grow Here attracted 63,489 visitors during the five month beta test.  Given the initial success of Dream Big Grow Here, a group of statewide sponsors stepped up this year to provide matching funds for more customized regional contests-with bigger cash awards of $5,000- and to fund a statewide pitch-off among winners for a grand prize of $10,000.  The Iowa Bankers Association, The Technology Association of Iowa, Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Area Development Group, and the Community Vitality Center make up the 2011 team.

The statewide sponsors have been meeting regularly since March, putting the parameters on the contest, working through the details associated with hosting this novel event and building the technologies and social media marketing strategies needed to host multiple contests simultaneously and to attract entrepreneurs.  The first contest was hosted in the Cedar Valley in March, by the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance.  Led by Steve Dust, the Alliance customized their contest, did a super job of outreach and ultimately attracted 24 growth oriented companies representing 14 different communities, including Greene, Independence, Reinbeck, Tama, Waterloo, Cedar Falls and eight other rural communities.  Over a two week period, more than 10,000 visitors checked out the contest; hundreds of people left messages, voted and read about these employer firms (some, by the way were very interesting!...)   The Cedar Valley contest picked up voters from 52 countries and even prompted phone calls from the National Economic Gardening Institute, asking how they might participate in the Iowa contests.  

The Central Iowa contest kicked off in August, under the direction of Mike Colwell at the Biz Innovation Zone.  Mike had all of central Iowa talking about BIZ Dream Big Grow Here; it was featured in the Des Moines Register, the Business Record and all over social media.  Mike's focus upon pre-venture technology companies brought out some closet innovators who are now on the radar of multiple capital and technical assistance programs.  Mike's contest was small- only seven contestants- but 9,861 votes were cast and there was tremendous online networking  He confesses to being up most of the night on August 31st- both watching the final contest tallies and supervising a new product launch of his own!  Who says Iowa entrepreneurship isn't happening? 

The remaining four contests are up and running! Collectively, 110 Iowa entrepreneurs are competing right now for $5,000- and an opportunity to be in the pitch-off for $10,000.  Over Labor Day weekend, more than 13,000 visitors were online reading about a model airplane manufacturer (who knew?) in Montezuma, a NE Iowa growers desire to introduce a new flower variety (Cresco), a NW Iowa woman's idea to expand a pet resort (Lake Park), a ballroom dancing studio (Burlington) and 106 other cool businesses and business ideas emerging from our towns and cities.  

So I'm writing to request five minutes.  Go to DreamBigGrowHere.com and prepare to be amazed at the people, passion and innovators who have dared to put their dream out there.  Post a comment, vote for your favorites and help us to create a supportive culture for innovators in our state.  Better yet, pass around this link to your e-lists.  Encourage others to weigh in to support small business and innovation too.  Thanks for all you do to support small business.

Maureen

Ps- I can't vote but if I did I'd have gone for Lucky Toto's dog treats....yeah.

Maureen Collins-Williams, Director
UNI Entrepreneurship Outreach
UNI Regional Business Center
319-273-4327
www.myentre.net
www.DreamBigGrowHere.com