FEBRUARY 6, 2009
BRATTLEBORO, VT -- The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) will be providing a free information session at 3:30 p.m. February 12 for anyone interested in participating in the fourth annual Business Plan Competition. The event will take place in Room 2 East at the Marlboro College Technology Center on Vernon Street in Brattleboro.
In addition, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be hosting a "Start Your Own Business" seminar covering business plans and financials from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. February 25 at BDCC. To register, go online to http://www.vtsbdc.org and click on the link for "statewide training opportunities." The seminar is a valuable resource for people who are uncertain about how to approach the executive summary and financials for the first phase of the competition.
The competition will again include two entry categories and multiple prizes totaling more than $40,000. For the "Existing Business" category, the top prize will be $12,000, the second-place prize will be $6,000, and the prizes for up to four runners-up will be $2,000 each. For the "New Business" category, the top prize will be $6,000, the second-place prize will be $3,000, and the prizes for up to four runners-up will be $1,500 each.
To be eligible for the competition, the existing or new business must be physically located within BDCC's designated region of Windham County plus the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, and Weston, Vermont; and must have an annual gross revenue of $500,000 or less.
To enter the competition, candidates must submit a three-page Executive Summary no later than 4 p.m. March 2, 2009. Finalists for each category will be announced on March 9. Final Business Plans will be due at BDCC no later than 4 p.m. April 20. Final presentations will take place on April 30 at the Tech Center, with winners announced at 3 p.m.
Founded in 1954, BDCC is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that serves as a catalyst for industrial and commercial growth in southeastern Vermont. More information about can be found online at BDCC's website, http://www.bdccbusinessplancompetition.com or by contacting BDCC at 802-257-7731.