Good morning,
SCORE has announced the fifth annual American Small Business Championship and Delaware entrepreneurs have a decent shot at state honors.
The national competition is funded by Sam’s Club. Last year, our site was asked to publicize the contest in the late going. This year, we’ll get a jump on things.
The contest will award two small businesses from every state and the District of Columbia with an all-expenses-paid trip to a training and networking workshop, national and local publicity, and mentoring from small business experts at SCORE. That format gives Delaware businesses an advantage.
Out of 102 small business honorees, three grand champions will each win a grand prize of $15,000. A judging panel of small business experts will select the grand champions based on how effectively they utilize the initial prizes to grow their business operations or revenue.
Winners last year were a multi-sports facility in Woodbridge, VA, an all-natural insect repellant business in upstate New York and an Albuquerque enterprise that helps nonprofits raise money through auto donations.
Small business owners can apply to be a Champion through February 7 at www.championship.score.org. Champions will be announced in late March and Grand Champions will be revealed in September.
To be eligible, applicants must have been in business for at least one year and currently generate revenue.
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 10 million aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2017, SCORE mentors volunteered 2.2 million hours to help create 55,000 new businesses and 130,000 full-time, part-time and contractor jobs.
Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is a membership warehouse club with a Delaware operation in Dover.
Enjoy your Tuesday. – Doug Rainey, publisher
