For the past 20 years, the Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur Center has helped individuals with dreams of owning their own businesses take steps toward turning those ideas into reality.
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John Recker, customer external affairs manager for AEP Ohio, said the donation reflects the company’s commitment to supporting local growth.
“And we believe that the Potts Center and the Lima chamber are organizations that in their mission to support Lima's entrepreneurs and small businesses,” Recker said. “We just think it's a great partnership to help Lima thrive.”
The Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur Center, in collaboration with the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College and the Lima Area Chamber Foundation, hosted the 2025 PITCHFEST on May 13 at the Borra Center in downtown Lima.
Area entrepreneurs compete at Pitchfest to obtain funding as they start or grow their local businesses. The competition is hosted by the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College, the Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur Center, and the Lima Area Chamber Foundation where up to $10,500 of funds will be awarded to the winning candidates. Entrepreneurs present their product or service to a panel of judges, and they are evaluated on how well their business plan will produce financial success in today's economy and job market. Organizers of Pitchfest hold this event to promote an avenue where small businesses can help thrive the local economy.
Jessie Pope – Director, Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur Center says, “It’s a great opportunity for anyone that’s starting a business, or if you’ve started and you’ve bumped into some situations that you didn’t really realize that is part of the process. Gives you an opportunity to maybe share with others that are going through it and some of the topics that will cover may just help you to solve your problem.”