(Cedar Rapids) Five small businesses from Main Street Iowa districts received $50,000 in state grants after successfully pitching their expansion ideas before a panel of judges. This is all part of the final round of Main Street Iowa’s Open 4 Business contest.
The awards were presented by Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority. Thyme & Spice Co. in Burlington topped four competitors statewide and won a $20,000 grant to expand their modern version of a spice and tea shop.
Other winners and their awards include:
-First runner-up, Goldfinch Tap + Eatery, Marion, $10,000.
–First runner-up, Holtz Service & Small Engine, Avoca, $10,000.
-Second runner-up, BlueMoon Holistic Wellness, Nevada, $5,000.
–Second runner-up, Corning Family Chiropractic, Corning, $5,000.
Thyme & Spice Co. earned another $1,000 for People’s Choice, selected by audience vote.
This year’s contest drew 20 applicants. Of those, 12 were invited to interview virtually with a panel of judges, who then selected five finalists. On Monday, each finalist had five minutes to present their ideas to the state-level judges.
Open 4 Business supports growth and expansion of existing small businesses in the more than 50 Main Street Iowa communities. In the past decade, the program has awarded dollars to more than 45 businesses.
The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs.
