Business Plan Competition

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Strolling of the Heifers have teamed up to relaunch BDCC's Business Plan Competition with the addition of a new Food/Farm category and multiple prizes totaling $67,500.

From 2006 to 2009, BDCC offered the competition with two categories: Existing businesses and startups or new businesses. After a hiatus in 2010, the contest's 2011 edition will feature two divisions -- one General Businesses excluding agriculture and food, and one specifically for agricultural or food-related enterprises -- the Strolling of the Heifers Farm/Food Business Plan Competition.

For the General Business (non-farm/food) division, the top prize in the "Existing Business" category will be $12,000, the second-place prize will be $6,000, and the prizes for up to three runners-up will be $2,000 each. For the general business "New Business" category, the top prize will be $6,000, the second-place prize will be $3,000, and the prizes for up to three runners-up will be $1,500 each.

In the Strolling of the Heifers Farm/Food division, the top prize in the "Existing Business" category will be $10,000, the second-place prize will be $5,000, and the prizes for up to three runners-up will be $1,500 each. For the Farm/Food "New Business" category, the top prize will be $5,000, the second-place prize will be $2,500, and the prizes for up to three runners-up will be $1,000 each.

Farms and enterprises engaged in food processing, distribution, packaging or retailing (including restaurants) should apply in the Farm/Food division; all others should apply in the general business division.

"We're excited to be running the competition again this year, and especially excited about partnering with Strolling of the Heifers, which allows us to greatly increase the available prize money and help jumpstart more businesses," said Jeffrey Lewis, BDCC executive director.

Following the final awards presentation, finalists in all categories will have an opportunity to network with investors, entrepreneurs, bankers, educators and others who are attending the Strolling of the Heifers Slow Living Summit, scheduled for June 1-3.

Learn more about the competition and its schedule, eligibility, rules, registration, judging, and free resources.

History

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) launched its first Business Plan Competition in 2006 with multiple goals in mind: to help raise awareness in the community about small businesses and entrepreneurship, and to encourage new business development by helping interested community members develop viable business plans, gain public attention, and earn financial rewards.

According to BDCC Executive Director Jeffrey Lewis, "The finalists represented a wide and inventive vein of creativity in Windham County, and the contest was such a success, we knew we had to make it an annual event."

"Also in 2006, we noticed that it was difficult to compare business plans submitted for new business ideas against plans submitted by already established businesses," says Lewis. "Understandably, the existing businesses stood out more favorably. Yet we want to encourage growth in both segments. So, we offer two prize categories -- one for Existing Businesses and one for New Businesses -- so that we can include more contestants and, thus, increase our impact on jump-starting new business growth and job creation in the region."

About Us

BDCC is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that serves as a catalyst for industrial and commercial growth in Windham County plus the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, and Weston, Vermont. Our primary objective is to create and retain a flourishing business community that supports vibrant fiscal activity, and improves the quality of life of all the county's residents. Read more about BDCC...

Strolling of the Heifers, based in Brattleboro, Vermont, was founded in 2001 with the goal of helping to save and sustain family farms by connecting people with healthy local food. Annually in June, it presents the Strolling of the Heifers Parade, in which heifer calves and other farm animals, bedecked with flowers, are led up Brattleboro's Main Street. When it's over, the crowd follows the parade to the Live Green Expo for food, entertainment, education and fun.

As part of its tenth anniversary in 2011, Strolling will also present the first Slow Living Conference, the first Tour de Heifer bicycle fund-raising event, and the first Farm/Food Short Film Festival. A summer internship program placing youth on family farms, developed and piloted by Strolling of the Heifers, will become part of the Windham Regional Career Center's new agricultural curriculum. Read more about Strolling of the Heifers...