News Flash

The city is holding its Small Business Plan Competition again in 2023 and will hold an information meeting for entrepreneurs interested in participating on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Committee Room at 101 N. Main St. An online session will also be held on Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. on Zoom. Entrepreneurs interested in attending can receive an invitation to the meeting by sending an email to Steven Harrison at stevench@cityofws.org.

The Office of Business Inclusion and Advancement is sponsoring the competition to promote job creation and small businesses by helping entrepreneurs develop sound business plans. The two winners will each receive a $5,000 grant for start-up costs, up to $5,000 in a potential matching micro-loan and technical assistance.

Eligible submissions must be for micro-businesses (five employees or less) located within the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area. This area includes portions of the northern, southern and eastern quadrants of the city. The businesses must also create low- to moderate-income jobs or benefit low- to moderate-income residents. Staff from the office’s Business Development Division will be available to provide assistance throughout the competition.

Following the information session on Feb. 21, executive summaries and business descriptions must be submitted by April 3. All submissions will be reviewed and the top finalists will have the opportunity to submit completed business plans in July. The finalists will be judged by the Small Business Loan Committee and the winner announced in August.

During last year’s competition, business plans by Tracy Misner for a media business and by Elaina Finney for a production studio were selected as the winners by the city’s Small Business Loan Committee. Everyone who submitted a business plan received guidance on how to improve their business plan and was eligible to apply for a small business loan. 

For more information go to CityofWS.org/bpc or call Steven Harrison at 336-747-7474.