BRATTLEBORO — Strolling of the Heifers and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp. have announced the winners of the 2012 Windham Regional Business Plan competition, with a total of $60,000 in prizes awarded.
Taking top prizes of $10,000 each were Iron Arts of Brattleboro in the existing general business category, and Deer Ridge Farm of Guilford in the existing farm/food category.
Iron Arts, owned by James Takaki, fabricates, markets, and sells ornamental metalwork, such as plant trellises, plant stands, birdbaths, and accent garden pieces. It is seeking to increase production capacity and efficiency by replacing its foreign purchasing with in house automation.
Deer Ridge Farm, owned by Lisa Holderness and Jerry Smith, is a 13-acre farm with a 2,200 tap leased sugarbush. It is planning to expand operations through early and late season plant sales, including dahlia tubers, flowers, and shrubs. In addition, the farm will offer mini-hoops, do-it-yourself kits, and workshops to help customers extend their growing season.
In the startup business categories, top prizes of $5,000 were awarded to Sunny Lane Daycare Center of Brookline in the general business division, and The Gleanery of Putney in the farm/food division.
Sunny Lane, owned by Tina Bills, will be opening a licensed daycare center and preschool in Brookline to provide care for up to 49 children, from newborn to age 12. It will be the only childcare facility located on both the Newfane and Townshend bus routes.
The Gleanery's managing members are Elizabeth Ehrenberg, Alice James, and Ismail Samad. The Gleanery is a start-up restaurant that will build its menu around seasonally available, locally sourced ingredients. The Gleanery intends to purchase or consign its dining room furniture, tableware, tables, and art from area artisans.
Additional prizes for second place, third place and runners-up were awarded to all of the competition's finalists, as follows:
In the existing general business category, Vermont Artisan Designs, owned by Greg and Susan Worden, received the second-place award of $5,000. Runner-up prizes of $1,500 each were earned by Dan Healey Forest Works, Venus of Vermont (owned by Sherilee Backman) and Walker & Company Roofing and Construction (owned by Daniel Systo).
In the startup general business category, the second place award of $2,500 went to A Modern Sweep, owned by Mark Gunkel, and $1,000 runner-up prizes were given to Codewryter Web & Video (owned by Marjorie Ray), Buddha Bella (owned by Casey Nelson) and ArtsXchange, owned by Stephen Dybas.
In the existing farm/food business category, second place, with a prize of $5,000, went to the Flat Street Pub, owned by Steve Pardo and Chris McInerney. Two runner-up awards of $1,500 each were given to the Robb Family Farm (Helen Robb, Charles Robb Sr. and Charles Robb Jr.) and Seitanic Kitchens (Meg Luce and Luis Torres).
In the startup farm-food category, there were two second-place awards of $2,500, given to the Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery (Timothy Brady, Amy Brady and David Hiler) and Harmony Circle Farm (Annie DeCoteau and Robert De Coteau). Runners up, receiving $1,000 each, were Alabaster's Alliums (Chance McNiff) and Alpineglo Farm (Rachel Ware.)
In each division, the judging panel consisted of 12 new or returning members who represent the business community. In the Farm/Food division, there were judges with particular expertise in agriculture and food-related enterprises.
The competition was being supported with a grant of $20,000 from the Thomas Thompson Trust. Strolling of the Heifers and BDCC each contributed $30,000 in prize funding. David Altstadt of David Altstadt Consulting LLC, Brattleboro, served as competition coordinator.
To enter the competition, interested community members attended one of several business prospectus workshops in March. These sessions were conducted by the Vermont Small Business Development Center and SEVCA, with the support of Marlboro Graduate School.
In the first phase of the competition, which ended April 11, contestants submitted a business prospectus, consisting of a two-page narrative and one-page financial statement. Based on the submitted business prospectuses, finalists for each category were chosen by the judges.
The finalists then prepared detailed business plans and made presentations on the morning of May 30 at the Marlboro College Graduate School. Winners were announced that afternoon.
All applicants had access to free assistance in formulating and formatting their Business Prospectus, and finalists received additional help in preparing their final business plan and presentations.
To be eligible for the competition, the existing or new business had to be for-profit and be physically located within BDCC's designated region of Windham County plus the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, and Weston, Vermont; and must have an annual gross revenue that does not exceed $500,000.
The intent of the competition is to help create and retain jobs, foster economic growth, and improve the quality of life in southeastern Vermont. Each submission was reviewed and judged based on such criteria as its likelihood of success and job creation (direct or indirect). For instance, judges looked for a business or expansion that would create new jobs opportunities, or positively affect other businesses such as suppliers or distributors. They also considered whether a business would make an ancillary impact such as drawing tourists to the area.
Several of the 2011 finalists are now operating in BDCC's Cotton Mill and Business Park incubator buildings in Brattleboro. Big Picture Farm, which produces goat milk caramel, recently received an additional grant of $49,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support business expansion.