Iowa’s West Coast Region Offers the Chance to Dream Big, Grow Here

The economic development organizations in northwest Iowa are teaming up to bring the statewide Dream Big Grow Here business grant contest to our region for the first time. The contest provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs with a need to start or expand their businesses in Iowa’s West Coast Region to submit their business ideas, pitch their proposals, and build support during a public voting period. Those with the most votes will compete statewide for a chance to win thousands for their business idea.

If you’re an entrepreneur with a small business or startup idea and you live in Cherokee, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux, or Woodbury Counties you can enter for a chance to compete statewide and win up to $15,000 for your business. Here’s how it works:

January 1^st – 31^st: Open call for proposals. Submit your idea to DreamBigGrowHere.com. You’ll compete on one six industry categories: Pre-revenue, Retail/Wholesale, Hospitality/ Restaurants, Ag/Production, Professional Services, and Manufacturing/Bioscience/ Information Technology. The deadline to submit your idea is January 31st. 

February 16 – March 1^st: Online voting period. Recruit family, friends, customers, and everyone you can to view your online submission and vote for yours. Industry category finalists announced March 16^th. All entrepreneurs advancing to the statewide contest will also have access to Business Concierge services, as well as receive personalized coaching and mentoring from University of Northern Iowa’s VentureNet Iowa to prepare their pitch.

May 21^st: Industry category competitions at EntreFest in Iowa City. Category winners receive $5,000, with prizes for 2^nd & 3^rd places. That evening, categories winners will pitch their business ideas in the finals for a chance to win the grand prize of $10,000 and a ton of crucial media exposure.

In addition, Iowa West Coast Region will host a regional business plan competition in late April just for those NW Iowa entrepreneurs who have entered the Dream Big Grow Here competition. More details coming soon, but get your submissions in now to DreamBigGrowHere to enter both contests!

Dream Big Grow Here joins the Innovation Market and Swimming with the Sharks as excellent local opportunities to present your business ideas, sharpen your pitch, and win critical startup capital. To get started, submit your idea by January 31st. Time to get out the garage and into the spotlight!