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To make the Cedar Valley a sweeter place to live by expanding my home based cake decorating business

Dreamer: Elizabeth Wilson

Business: Eat Cakes

Location: Hudson, IA

I make cakes out of my home, specializing in custom designs and 3d cakes. I'm applying for Dream Big, Grow Here because I need money to be able to expand my business to serve more people and to create even more elaborate works of cake art. I will use the money from Dream Big, Grow Here to advertise and...

current rank
1
number of votes rank
638
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Genuine Faux Farm wants to be sustainable and resilient. Help add a new high tunnel building.

Dreamer: Rob Faux Winner

Business: Genuine Faux Farm

Location: Tripoli, IA

The Genuine Faux Farm is a small, family farm that focuses on raising vegetables for our 120 member farm share CSA. We are certified organic and believe in using sustainable methods. We specialize in heirloom and open-pollinated vegetables, selecting vegetable varieties for taste first and production...

current rank
2
number of votes rank
634
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What if I told you that you could have it all? Money, time, and togetherness...Guess what? You CAN!

Dreamer: Tracy Freese

Business: Strong Estate LLC

Location: Dike, IA

Would you agree with me if I told you fake breasts are not as attractive as a used minivan? Society as we know it probably wouldn’t have a difficult time choosing large breasts. BUT, sometimes society needs a little help. That’s where we come in. Large breasts may be appealing in the short-term, but...

current rank
3
number of votes rank
355
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New KT's Indoor Inflatable Park, outdoor play area for KT's Backyard Adventures and big parking lot!

Dreamer: Katie Warren

Business: KT's Indoor Inflatable Park

Location: Waterloo, IA

KT's Indoor Inflatable Park is an indoor play center for kiddos 12 and under. We have several inflatable bounce houses, slides and an obstacle course. We offer open play Tuesday-Sunday and also offer birthday or corporate parties. KT's can also deliver, set up and tear down bounce houses/slides/obstacle...

current rank
4
number of votes rank
320
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Disability Connections- Your Disability Representatives!!

Dreamer: Sherry Kiskunas

Business: Disability Connections L.L.C.

Location: Waterloo, IA

We are a Disability Representation & Advocacy Firm. We started small last January and we have successfully won 5 cases in just 7 months! This pleasantly exceeded our expectations but we have a lot more work to do! We have many other people that we are currently representing and we would use the grant...

current rank
5
number of votes rank
288
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MY DREAM IS TO OPEN A EUROPEAN STYLE BAKERY THAT OFFERS HIGH QUALITY BREADS, PASTRIES AND CAKES

Dreamer: Vicky Dunn

Business: Ce'st la V Bakery

Location: Waterloo, IA

For most of my professional career, I worked in the food industry as a quality assurance manager. Several years ago, I made the decision to leave the corporate world behind and pursue a career as an artisan baker. I enrolled at the French Pastry School of Chicago and completed their L'Art de la Patisserie...

current rank
6
number of votes rank
279
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Holistic Center for Alternative Therapies & Therapeutic Counseling, " A Natural Way to Healing"

Dreamer: Janine Ambrose

Business: The Loving Arts

Location: Waterloo, IA

"We Are In This Together" the name of my world peace song. We can make "The Loving Arts Alternative Therapies Center is happening! Please share your vote with me to create a place for all. My dream of over 25 years has been to open a center for natural healing. I have a background of over 30 years experience...

current rank
7
number of votes rank
216
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Woody's Bicycle Recycling and Mfg Co. A business based on common use of the bicycle.

Dreamer: James Wood

Business: Woody's Bicycle Shop

Location: Eldora, IA

Currently, Woody's Bicycle Shop rescues and recycles used bicycles to be used again. Most bicycles in this country are not valued as they should be and hence not cared for. The cost of proper maintenance is prohibitive to the average bicyclist that has no knowledge or desire to do it themselves. I take...

current rank
8
number of votes rank
43
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iGus Marketing

Dreamer: Denita Gadson

Business: 4C's Consulting, LLC dba iGus Marketing

Location: Waterloo, IA

iGus Marketing provides local businesses with branding solutions that previously only big businesses could afford, and also promotes local events and charities. iGus Marketing places 40 inch and 50 inch flat screen TVs in local businesses where their customers are captured and standing in line or waiting...

current rank
9
number of votes rank
42
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Farming Shrimp in the Cedar Valley

Dreamer: Matt Weichers

Business: Northern Iowa Shrimp

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

“Aquaculture, not the Internet, represents the most promising investment opportunity of the 21st Century. With finite fisheries resources, a growing global population and increasing demand for seafood, the conditions appear ripe for industry growth.” - Peter Drucker, Economist and Nobel Laureate 1999 Northern...

current rank
10
number of votes rank
34
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To Be my own boss, and help others to their dreams.

Dreamer: Carey Cowell

Business: Duane's Barber Shop

Location: Denver, IA

I own a barber shop in Denver I bought it from it's previous owner a gentleman that had been in the trade for 49 years. I provide a barber shop atmosphere for men and woman to achieve their hair needs. The men enjoy the quick and price effective haircuts they receive. I have a walk-in basis that they...

current rank
11
number of votes rank
25
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Young G's Barbeque Sauce

Dreamer: Gerald Young

Business: Young G's Barbeque Sauce

Location: Waterloo, IA

Young G's Barbeque Sauce represents my father's secret recipe which has existed in the family for over 20 years. Following my return from active duty in Afghanistan as a disabled veteran I received my father's blessing to take his recipe to the public. It is a great sauce with all natural and fresh ingredients....

current rank
12
number of votes rank
13
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Shaggie Delicious

Dreamer: janey shekleton

Business: Janey Lynns Design INC

Location: New Hampton, IA

Janey Lynn's Designs took a simple concept from my Grandmother and turned into a practical product with a purpose.....The Shaggie®! My Grandma gave me potholders made from her old chenille robe. By pure happenstance I used it for a dishcloth finding the absorbency and unique texture quite interesting....

current rank
13
number of votes rank
8
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College Hill Design & Screen Printing

Dreamer: Seth Hadenfeldt

Business: College Hill Design

Location: Waterloo, IA

College Hill Design was founded on the notion that groups in the Cedar Valley should have access to quality, affordable gear. While attending UNI, we were involved with several student groups and always ended up ordering custom gear like shirts, stadium cups & sunglasses. The goal was the same for...

current rank
14
number of votes rank
4
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Iowa's Own, Midwest Best Small Airline

Dreamer: Malcolm Cleope

Business: Air Express Airlines

Location: Waterloo, IA

Air Express Airline is an Iowa based start-up air charter airline organized to serve a unique niche market. It's main goal is to provide air service to neglected and underserved 19 and 30 passenger market. The Midwest has a lot of that smaller markets especially here in Iowa where most major airlines...

current rank
15
number of votes rank
2
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Culturally Competent Mental Health in the Cedar Valley

Dreamer: Christine Guevara

Business: Noble Cedar Psychological Institute

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Noble Cedar Psychological Institute is a mental health group practice that has been offering culturally competent mental health services to the Cedar Valley through outpatient mental health services since 2011 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. We pride ourselves on being able to provide individual and family therapy...

current rank
16
number of votes rank
1
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Small Town Small Business showing Off local Talent

Dreamer: Dawn Bonk

Business: Homespun Treasures

Location: Grundy Center, IA

Homespun Treasures was a dream in the making for many years. This store is a artisan's mall. I have over 40 vendor that make items or repurpose items to sell. They Pay a flat monthly fee and I sell their items. We also do Sewing and Quilting classes and have a full time Quilt Appraiser in our store....

current rank
16
number of votes rank
1
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Workout Anywhere Exercise App

Dreamer: Diane Robert

Business: Trebor Enterprises, LLC

Location: Waterloo, IA

More than a year ago, my daughter, a certified personal trainer in LA, was home for a visit. She took me to a local high school one day and made up a workout on the spot for me and did it along with me. I should mention that I was 55 years old at the time and she had to "accommodate" my age and a few...

current rank
18
number of votes rank
0
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Growing student art in Iowa

Dreamer: Jonathan Purdy

Business: All Art Gallery

Location: Cedar Falls , IA

The point of my business is to celebrate art, with an emphasis on the students. The core of the money would be used to purchase and re-purpose retired cigarette vending machines into art dispensing machines. Each machine would have 8 featured student artists, there would be a total of 15 machines to...

current rank
18
number of votes rank
0
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Daepian Apparel "Natives Original Brand"

Dreamer: Daepian Apparel

Business: Daepian Apparel

Location: Tama, IA

A native American owned clothing brand. I am applying to win some money to help purchase my own screen-printing equipment. I do graphic design for my community, other native peoples/tribes, and my own clothing business. Having my own equipment would eliminate having another business do the screen-pr...

current rank
18
number of votes rank
0
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