Dream Big, Grow Here - Iowa's Premier Business Grant Contest

Welcome

WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED!

More than 225 small business owners from across Iowa uploaded their business dreams to this site in ten regional $5,000 contests this last fall. More than 100,000 Iowans voted and posted support for their favorite small businesses.

2012 Winners are:

Junior Mekinda - Ready To Go In America

Deri Fehr - Edu-Instruments

Paul Weighner - WW Homestead Dairy

Devy Combs - The Chicken Sisters

Tom Mulholland - Mulholland Grocery

Michael Spurling - The Depot Family Restaurant

Dawn Pursell - Lizzy Mae's Cupcakes and Sweets

Rachael Roewe - {made}, llc.

Nikole Benson - Tug's Daycare and Preschool

Tyler Richard - Cryogen Design, LLC.

On March 7th, these regional contest winners will appear before a panel of judges to pitch their dreams in person. One business will be named the 2012 winner and will receive a cash award of $10,000 from the Iowa Bankers Association!

Join Us To Cheer On Your Favorite Iowa Business Owner!

The Dream Big Grow Here Pitch-Off is free and open to the public and will include great food, a cash bar, lots of excitement and the chance to show your support!

Thursday, March 7th at 5:00 pm

The Hotel at Kirkwood - Ballroom

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Celebrity Emcee: Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds

More more information, contact the UNI Entrepreneurship Team at 319-273-4328 or Sarah Bey.

To get started, find your regional contest below. Please keep in mind that each region has different entry requirements, so be sure to read the 'How it Works' section carefully.

Find your 2012 Dream Big Grow Here Contest Below!

Don't see a contest in your county?

Dream Big Grow Here Contests

	Creative Corridor 2012 This contest has ended Iowa's Creative Corridor, the greater Iowa City/Cedar Rapids region, is a place where big ideas happen. Our aim is to celebrate, support, connect, and enthusiastically cheer on those who dream big, push boundaries, and move our region forward. If you’re an entrepreneur living in Johnson, Washington, Benton, Jones, Linn, Cedar or Iowa County, the Corridor Business Alliance invites you to submit your business idea to this website by Oct 19 for a chance to win $5000 to make it happen! Learn more about the regional contest on our Facebook page!

	North Central Iowa 2012 This contest has ended Our mission is to help businesses start and grow in North Iowa and Dream Big Grow Here North Central Iowa can help generate excitement and value for those existing and startup businesses in our region that participate.

	Iowa Lakes Corridor 2012 This contest has ended The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is a private non-profit economic development agency that represents Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties. The Corridor’s mission is, "To foster, encourage, promote, aid or otherwise assist in the economic growth and development of the four-county region." A major focus of the Iowa Lakes Corridor is fostering entrepreneurship in the region. We provide coaching services for entrepreneurs, from start-ups through maturing companies. We also work to create the next generation of successful youth entrepreneurs, from kindergartners to college students. The Corridor Region’s Dream Big Grow Here contest is open to all ages and industries with fewer than 30 employees. Submit your Dream today!

	Southwest Iowa 2012 This contest has ended The Division of Economic and Workforce Development at Iowa Western Community College works with individuals, communities, and existing and emerging businesses in southwest Iowa providing services and programs they need to remain competitive and thrive. The division provides services in the areas of economic development, workforce development, and entrepreneurial development.

	Northeast Iowa Business Network 2012 This contest has ended The Northeast Iowa Business Network (NIBIN) is excited to host our second annual DBGH. The contest not only aides entrepreneurs with financial assistance to accomplish their start-up or expansion but also partners them with the resources necessary to make their business a success. "The exposure and connections our businesses gain is tremendous, and our regional ED group is able to better assist all the participants in reaching their goals," stated Jason Passmore of Howard County Business & Tourism. The networking that the entrepreneurs gain from the process has been outstanding with 20 businesses competing in the contest last year. This year, NIBN is going to host their own mini pitch-off to further assist businesses with the public speaking portion of the contest.

	South Central Iowa 2012 This contest has ended We are hosting a Dream Big Grow Here contest because our region believes in creating an atmosphere which fosters entrepreneurship. We look forward to the event as a way to support our existing entrepreneurial companies and help launch start ups! We think the net working will be particularly valuable to the entrepreneurial community.

	DMACC Business Resources 2012 This contest has ended DMACC Business Resources believes that encouraging entrepreneurism is vital to the expansion of Iowa’s economy. The Dream Big Grow Here contest is a creative and fun method of motivating and supporting our entrepreneurs. DMACC wants all of Iowa’s entrepreneurs to dream big, grow here and stay here.

	Innovation Gateway 2012 This contest has ended The Iowa Innovation Gateway believes in creating a culture of entrepreneurism by supporting innovative ideas. The Dream Big Grow Here contest enables IIG to learn more about the region’s entrepreneurs while providing entrepreneurs an opportunity to promote either their proposed business or their dreams for their current business. Iowa Innovation Gateway wants all area entrepreneurs to dream big and then grow their dream right here in the IIG region.

	Cedar Valley 2012 This contest has ended The Mission of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is: To Increase Economic Vitality & Wealth by Leading Collaborative Economic & Community Development. The Alliance & Chamber, with the other six members of the Cedar Valley Regional Partnership, collaborate with MyEntre.Net to deliver tools to small businesses that have significant growth in their vision.

	Southeast Iowa 2012 This contest has ended The Mount Pleasant Area Development Commission exists to "facilitate a positive business climate" in Henry County and southeast Iowa. There is no surer way to create such a climate than to empower entrepreneurs to transform ideas into action, visions into reality. Entrepreneurs always "Dream Big." The Mount Pleasant Area Development Commission is proud to help them "Grow Here."