Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge judges selected 9 of 19 Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge applicants as finalists Thursday, March 3rd. With 104 applications, 53 of which were qualified- we have had more interest from entrepreneurs than ever before. At the end of January, 19 qualified business plans were approved for entry into the Challenge. The selected 9 finalists are basic industry businesses that are competing based on their business plan for a share of $500,000.
Media is invited to attend Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge finalist presentations on March 29th, where finalists will have the opportunity to present their entrepreneurial idea and business plan to the panel of 5 judges. The finalist presentations are composed of a 10 minute oral presentation of their plan, followed by a 15 minute question and answer session. Presentations will begin at 8:30 am at the WTAMU Enterprise Center, 2300 N. Western in Amarillo. To attend presentations, we ask that media representatives arrive 5 - 10 minutes prior to the scheduled presentation times. Once a presentation begins, there will be no interruptions. Representatives from the Amarillo Economic Development Center, West Texas A&M University Enterprise Center, and participating businesses will be available for interviews before and after presentations as scheduled below. .
Finalist selections are as follows:
Business Name
Description
Presenter
Canyon Creek Soap Company
Canyon Creek Soap Company manufactures high quality natural handmade soap and bath & body products which are sold retail, wholesale and private label.
Paula Davis
Cooke Electrical Contractors, Inc
Electrical Contractor specializing in utility scale substations, switching stations and underground collection systems in the Wind Turbine Industry.
Paul Cooke
D&L Plastic Screening
Screen printing, embroidery, specialty goods company.
Eddie Lancaster
Tascosa Hot Sauce, LLC
Tascosa Hot Sauce, originally the "Tascosa Tortilla Company" was started in 1957. Tascosa Hot Sauce produces and distributes three varieties of hot sauce including original, extra hot and mild nationally.
Melody White
Norris Audio Video Systems, LP
Contracting of audio, video, theatrical lighting, digital signage, surveillance, access control, and home entertainment systems.
Michael Norris
Original Condition
Distributor of automotive scent, cleaner, polish, brushes, & consultant.
Paul Morrow
The Skilled Trades Company
The Skilled Trades Company is a construction staffing company that provides skilled tradesmen, such as electricians, plumbers, welders, millwrights, and HVAC installers, to commercial, industrial, and energy contractors and facilities on an as needed basis both through locally sourced workers as well as nationally sourced "travelers".
Braden Black
Roberts Ditching LLC
Roberts Ditching, LLC provides ditching and directional drilling service.
Ty and Cresha Roberts
Consolidated Beef Producers, Inc.
Feed Cattle Marketing Solutions and Risk Management.
Bruce Cobb
The Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge is a program designed to assist entrepreneurs in the launch of a new business or expansion of an existing business. Entrepreneur business plans and presentations are judged by a panel of five successful, local entrepreneurs. This year's panel of judges includes:
Eddie Scott, The Greenways
Don Sanders, Sir Speedy
Mark Marrs, Interstate Bank
Chris Stewart, Attorney
Dr. Neil Terry, WTAMU Dean of College of Business
Every Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge applicant receives valuable recommendations and analysis of their business plan from the panel of judges, while finalists get the opportunity to present their business plan and be interviewed by the panel of judges. Finalists are selected through an independent review and scoring process of all qualified applicants. Following finalist presentations, judges will select the Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge grant recipients on March 29, 2010 and awards will be presented at a reception April 7, 2010.
The awards are grants, not loans, and they don't have to be paid back. The money can be used for any purpose, as long as it stays within the business. To date, through the Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge program 40 businesses have received cash grants of as much of $75,000 each, totaling over $2.05 million in grants over the last fourteen years. Altogether, these firms have created 312 new jobs and bring more than $24 million into the Amarillo economy. In addition, these companies have invested over $6.6 million in additional capital since receiving their grants.
The Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge is a program of the WTAMU Enterprise Center that is funded by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
The mission of the West Texas A&M University Enterprise Center is to grow and diversify the economic base of Amarillo and selected regional communities by utilizing the tools of business incubation, business development and entrepreneurial education.
For information: http://www.AmarilloEnterPrizeChallenge.com or
Contact: cori@incubationworks.com
Phone: 806-374-9777
