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The Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Shop Wishes to Become "Pudgier"

Dreamer: Elaine Hollen

Business: The Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Shop

Location: Red Oak, IA

My dream of owning a gift shop started with selling gift items and pumpkins under tents at my husband's place of business to test the market. The Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Shop has been located in historic downtown Red Oak for the last four years. I purchased a building on the square that was built...

current rank
1
number of votes rank
5286
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Egg Krate- Where ideas are hatched and sold!

Dreamer: Katrina Riggs

Business: Egg Krate Antiques LLC

Location: Elk Horn , IA

Egg Krate Antique's building has been in the small town of Elk Horn since World War II but first started as an egg candling business. For the last 15 years it has been a consignment store with about 50 vendors that have new items, old items and a lot of people's own creations. The Egg Krate not only...

current rank
2
number of votes rank
5281
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Our dream is to purchase and utilize technology to operate our gym more efficiently!

Dreamer: Andre & Eva Franco

Business: Innovative Strength & Conditioning (ISC)

Location: Neola, IA

ISC is an elite strength and conditioning training facility located in Neola, IA. We provide strength training programs for fifth grade through college athletes. We began chasing our dream and opened our gym in Underwood, IA in October of 2010 in a 600 square-foot building. After an expansion in Underwood...

current rank
3
number of votes rank
2980
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Continue to provide a unique place for couples to celebrate one of the happiest days of their lives.

Dreamer: Shane McCool Winner

Business: Willow Creek Glass Chapel & Banquet Hall

Location: Shelby, IA

We are a chapel and banquet barn that allows couples to celebrate their wedding ceremony and reception all at one place, in a very unique and breathtaking location. Willow Creek Glass Chapel & Banquet Hall Barn is built on a farm that has been in the family for 120 years. We are a husband and wife...

current rank
4
number of votes rank
1567
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Dreaming of a Customized Vehicle for our Catering Business

Dreamer: Sheila Roane

Business: Kitchen Sisters LLC

Location: Persia, IA

The grant money would go towards the purchase and customizing of a commercial vehicle. This would allow us to deliver with a single means of transportation, no longer using our two personal vehicles. Our goal is to save time, add efficiency and aid in the safe and secure transporting of our products....

current rank
5
number of votes rank
1309
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Big Dream: Convert historic church into a pharmacy

Dreamer: Linda Grimm

Business: Valley Drug Store

Location: Missouri Valley, IA

Valley Drug store is an independent, local pharmacy in Missouri Valley, IA. Our dream is to convert a historic Missouri Valley church into a pharmacy. The relocation to the church would place Valley Drug within very short walking distance of two senior living apartments and help residents who may no...

current rank
6
number of votes rank
1130
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Helping Carter Lake Iowa to GET MOVING!

Dreamer: Michelle Salerno

Business: Salerno's Get Moving

Location: Carter Lake, IA

I offer Small Group Fitness & Wellness Training for the community of Carter Lake & surrounding areas. There isn't a community center or any other type of fitness facility in or near our small town of 3700+. We are close to downtown Omaha, Ne (6 miles), Eppley Airfield & have 26 hotels within a 4 mile...

current rank
7
number of votes rank
1052
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My dream is for Corner Cottage to have a professional landscape transformation...

Dreamer: christina bennett

Business: Corner Cottage Floral

Location: Hamburg, IA

Corner Cottage is a floral and gift shop in the small rural town of Hamburg, Iowa. We provide the community with a selection of fresh and silk arrangements, plants, unique handmade items, candy bouquets, and two brands of native Iowa wines. We create and design floral for funerals, weddings, birthdays,...

current rank
8
number of votes rank
830
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The dream of Brother John’s Bakery will become a reality at 621 West Sheridan Ave, Shenandoah

Dreamer: Johnathan Spencer

Business: Brother John's Bakery

Location: Sidney, IA

Brother John’s Bakery has been given a tremendous opportunity by the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association to use their business incubator space for two years. The building at 621 West Sheridan Avenue in Shenandoah was most recently a furniture store. It is a large building that was originally...

current rank
9
number of votes rank
788
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To help keep Harlan’s Historic Downtown a vital part of the business community

Dreamer: Colleen Oliver

Business: Iowa Wines & More

Location: Harlan, IA

My store is a niche shop that promotes Iowa by selling Iowa wines, chocolates and beef sticks plus we have other gifts items. We also help to promote local club fundraisers and festivals by doing free wine tastings. The money would help us to continue to help with these functions and for us to grow...

current rank
10
number of votes rank
474
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To Take Misfits & Cast Off Junk ~ Re-Create it to a Most Beautiful, Whimsical & Delightful Style

Dreamer: Stephanie Patzer

Business: Second Helpings Boutique

Location: Glenwood, IA

Second Helpings Boutique is a 1 woman show. I take presumed to be junk and re-purpose, paint, pretty, add-to, subtract-from, re-create, etc. to reach an end product that is represented in a new fun & whimsical form. These items can be canvas art to old garbage cans. Sky's the limit where the medium...

current rank
11
number of votes rank
471
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Farm to table Avondale's Best Vegetable Soup

Dreamer: Marcia Purdy

Business: Avondale's Best

Location: Atlantic, IA

We are applying for Dream Big to defray expenses for research and development for Avondale's Best Vegetable soup. We grew up in Avondale. Avondale isn't a town, but it is a community...a community that hayed together and prayed together. Our family is rooted in that community to this day. Mom had...

current rank
12
number of votes rank
462
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Good Beer Here. Growing our Capabilities

Dreamer: Keg Creek Brewing Company

Business: Keg Creek Brewing Company

Location: Glenwood, IA

Located in Glenwood, IA Keg Creek Brewing Company opened in September of 2011 with a goal of bringing quality craft beer to Southwest Iowa. Currently we are in need of another fermenter and a packaging line to help increase availability for our customers throughout the area. Keg Creek Brewing Company...

current rank
13
number of votes rank
389
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Living the green dream

Dreamer: John Blue

Business: BlueJ's Lawn and Landscape Service Inc.

Location: Council Bluffs, IA

Our business is the last call you need to make when comes to your lawn and landscape. We offer mowing services, a five-step fertilization program, and our specialty is lawn renovation. We design, install, and maintain landscapes during the winter we do residential snow removal. I’m apply for this money...

current rank
14
number of votes rank
337
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Building for the Future

Dreamer: Teresa Middents

Business: Salute Gymnastics

Location: Atlantic, IA

Salute Gymnastics offers classes for kids walking on up and teaches them coordination, strength, positive attitude, and the ability the learn new things. We offer recreational and competitive gymnastics for boys and girls of all ages. I am applying to the Dream Big Grow here to help build a new and...

current rank
15
number of votes rank
288
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The Good Life - Natural, Organic, and Local Products

Dreamer: Rebecca Castle

Business: The Good Life

Location: Shenandoah, IA

The Good Life will be a health food store in downtown Shenandoah. This store will sell natural and organic foods, herbs, seasonings, teas, coffees, vitamins, supplements, medicinals, essential oils, and personal care products. The Good Life will also keep as many local products as possible in stock...

current rank
16
number of votes rank
269
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Be recognized as the industry leader in one-of-a-kind wedding designs

Dreamer: Rhonda Bullington

Business: Loess Hills Floral Studio

Location: Council Bluffs, IA

Loess Hills Floral Studio specializes in one-of-a-kind weddings and unique floral trend arrangements. Opening in June 2011, the original business plan was to be a "full service floral shop". However, with one bride trusting us to create her wedding vision, the rest is history. Our wedding business...

current rank
17
number of votes rank
228
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My Girls INK wants to expand beyond a small town business.

Dreamer: John Bainter

Business: My Girls INK promotional Products

Location: Malvern, IA

My Girls INK is a family owned screen printing, promotional product business that believes that if "you can think it, We can INK it". We have found that there are very few products that you can't put your name, company name or logo on, and we wanted to be able to do that at a smaller cost especially...

current rank
18
number of votes rank
221
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Two women that Dream Big and want to Grow Here

Dreamer: Tannis Clark

Business: T&T; Greenhouse and Gift Shoppe

Location: Silver City, IA

Tannis Clark and Robin Trede have a passion for quilting, crafts and gardening. This passion comes from many years of crafting and quilting in our basements and flower and vegetable gardens in the back yard. To us, quilting is a hobby, a love, and a tradition carried down through generations. We have...

current rank
19
number of votes rank
171
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Our dream is to expand our business to provide outdoor hearth appliances to the customer.

Dreamer: Ron Waschkowski

Business: River City Chimney & Hearth

Location: Council Bluffs, IA

My name is Ron Waschkowski, and I am the owner of River City Chimney & Hearth, Inc. I have been involved in the hearth industry since 2003, performing all types of fireplace and chimney services. We are known for the installation and service of wood, gas and pellet appliances, as well as the maintenance...

current rank
20
number of votes rank
163
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Starting out small to achieve success.

Dreamer: Mike Gresham

Business: Gresham Archery and Supply

Location: Hamburg, IA

Gresham Archery and Supply provides our customers with high quality hunting supplies and has a full service bow shop. The business is ran out of our basement that is dedicated to the shop with the idea that one day we will be able to move into a store front location. With a stay at home housewife that...

current rank
21
number of votes rank
149
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Loess Hills Lavender Farm Expansion

Dreamer: Mary Hamer

Business: Loess Hills Lavender Farm

Location: Missouri Valley , IA

We are a farm that provides unique experiences centered around the herb lavender. In our gift shop, we make and sell our own bath products and sell crafts from local artisans. We also hold special events like our American High Tea and Tour presentations. We are at a tipping point with our small business...

current rank
22
number of votes rank
136
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Connecting rural Southwestern Iowa with broadband internet

Dreamer: Jason Erickson

Business: Off Kilter Media

Location: Harlan, IA

Broadband wireless is quickly becoming a requirement for business to operate, children to complete their schoolwork, and families to keep in touch. Internet connectivity has made the world into a smaller place with bigger opportunities; opportunities that let you share ideas, make new friends, and find...

current rank
23
number of votes rank
130
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Goat and Sheep Milk Cheese Processing Plant

Dreamer: Janna Feldman

Business: Doe's and Diva's Dairy, Inc.

Location: Honey Creek, IA

We are the Feldman Family and own Doe’s and Diva’s, Inc., a goat and sheep dairy located in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa. We live in Honey Creek, Iowa, in the heart of the beautiful Loess Hills. We started making cheese for home and family consumption shortly after moving into our Iowa home. In...

current rank
24
number of votes rank
96
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Relationship Essentials, LLC; Enhancing the lives of Iowans through improved relationships

Dreamer: Rob Hickman

Business: Relationship Essentials, LLC

Location: Clarinda, IA

Relationship Essentials, LLC is designed to help people suffering from relationship problems, who have no diagnosable mental or behavioral health concerns. It is intended to enhance mental health clinics in their public service with certified professional conversationalists, skills counselors, and relationship...

current rank
25
number of votes rank
70
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Help us bring FITNESS and FUN to area Youth and Families! Glenwood Fit 4 Life

Dreamer: Beth Shain

Business: Fit 4 Life Fitness Studio

Location: Glenwood, IA

Fit 4 Life offers a variety of group fitness classes for all ages and fitness levels. We offer personal and small group training for those individuals who need/want to enhance their health and well being. Our online meal planning service offers nutritional guidance for those looking for both weight loss...

current rank
26
number of votes rank
69
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To infinity and beyond!

Dreamer: Emmyjo Gilfillan

Business: Miss Em Photography

Location: Council Bluffs, IA

I am a photographer who loves to do her job! Photography has always been a big part in my life and it is one of my favorite things to do. I thank the Lord everyday that He has given me this talent to capture expressions and emotions in a simple photo that will last forever. The way I would use this money...

current rank
27
number of votes rank
21
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DADS Dream

Dreamer: David Penning

Business: DADS Carpet Cleaning

Location: Council Bluffs, IA

I own and operate DADS Carpet Cleaning, a one-person business. I am applying in the hope of getting some working capital to purchase new equipment and expand the business. ******** I am a native of Waterloo, Iowa, a current resident of Council Bluffs and a veteran who owns a small business. I...

current rank
28
number of votes rank
17
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