MARSHALL, Mo., Aug. 16, 2013 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The finals for the 2013 MADE In Missouri State Entrepreneurship Competition were held on August 12 at the Missouri State Fair. This is the fourth annual event sponsored by the Missouri Alliance for the Development of Entrepreneurship. Its goal is to celebrate and recognize the importance of locally owned businesses and provide a venue to assist them toward becoming successful. The competition assists new and aspiring Missouri based businesses through a competitive and educational business development process that awards business investment funds to the winners.
Competitors start by answering a questionnaire about their business ideas including the impact their business would have on their community. First round judges then provide the competitors with tips, referrals and suggestions on how to make their businesses concept better or things they should consider. The finalists turned in their completed business plans and financial projections prior to the event. During the final round of the competition the competitors present their products and services in a trade show and give a presentation followed by a question and answer period with judges at the Missouri State Fair on August 12, 2013 in Sedalia, Missouri.
Certificates and business investment awards were given out to the winners in each of the two classes, Open and Youth. In the Open class the first place winner David Christenson from St. Charles for Allergy Sciences Incorporated. The second place winner is Tom Cohen from St Louis for Nanopore Diagnostics, LLC. Third place in the Open class went to Kim Lanes from Harrisburg for 5Gen Salsa, LLC. In the Youth class Brandon Banks from Warrensburg with Powerhouse Web Design took first place.
This project and event contributes to economic stability in Missouri by helping locally owned businesses move toward success. These new business owners become leaders and reinvest in the communities that support them. They create an economic footprint, hire local people and make a difference in the communities.
About MADE:
The Missouri Alliance for the Development of Entrepreneurship (MADE) is comprised of members from several state agencies, USDA Rural Development and others and is facilitated by Missouri Valley Community Action Agency of Marshall, Missouri, a not-for-profit organization located in Marshall, Mo.
This project/program is funded at 75 percent at $15,000 by federal funds and 25 percent at $5,000 by nongovernmental sources for a total amount of $20,000. The federal funds are received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division.
More information: http://mvcaa.net/ .
NEWS SOURCE: Missouri Alliance for the Development of Entrepreneurship :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. Original syndication source of this news item: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/2013-MADE-In-Missouri-Entrepreneurship-Competition-Winners-Announced_2013-08-0816-002.shtml.