May 17, 2024, Press Release from the the Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur Center: Lima, Ohio: The Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur, in partnership with the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College and the Lima Area Chamber Foundation hosted PITCHFEST on May 14, 2024, at the Borra Center for Health Sciences at Rhodes State College in Downtown Lima.
The 2024 PITCHFEST competition is sponsored by Huntington National Bank, First National Bank, State Bank, The Union Bank Company, First Financial Bank, Superior Credit Union, and Nutrien.
The competition features two categories of interest for all entrepreneurs in the eight-county region. This includes the start-up category and an emerging category. The start-up category is for all entrepreneurs that want to receive funding to start a new business. The emerging category is for any business already in operation for 1-3 years. The competition will reward over $10,500 worth of cash and prizes. Twelve companies participated in the event, it’s a Lifestyle, Simple Suite, Pink Box Studio, We Care Too Learning, Shareena’s Delights, Traveling Teapot, Hometown Transportation, Lounge Media Group, Buckeye Soft Serve, Refind Crafts, Bakery Three, and Event Pro Connections.
The recipients of the start-up category are as follows: Pink Box Studio (Lima, Ohio), Traveling Teapots, (Maumee, Ohio), Lounge Media Group (Bluffton, Ohio).
The recipients of the emerging category are: Simply Suite (Lima, Ohio) and Hometown Transportation (New Breman, Ohio).
Recipients of the awards are to contact Jessie Pope, Director of the Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur Center for further instruction at 419-222-6045 or potts@limachamber.com.
“The Small Business Development Center is very pleased to be a part of this area collaboration that strives to fulfill our mission to grow small businesses. It is through the combined efforts of community organizations that provide opportunities for successful, small and minority businesses and entrepreneurs,” says Kathy Keller, Program Director, Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College.
The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College hosted a small business series starting Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 5-7 p.m. at the Borra Center or online at various satellite locations in the region. The series was held every Tuesday for six weeks. March 7, March 12, March 19, March 26, April 15, 2024, and April 23, 2024. All participants that attended and completed a business plan received a certificate of completion.
To learn more please contact the Walter C. Potts Entrepreneur Center located at the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce at 419-222-6045 or potts@limachamber.com.
