Dream Big Grow Here Contest Hosting
Dream Big Grow Here Outline
Dream Big Grow Here Application to Host 2011
In June of 2010, the University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center (RBC) developed a partnership with the Iowa Bankers Association and the Community Vitality Center to attract and link emerging Iowa entrepreneurs with the capital resources available in the state to serve them.
A statewide contest entitled
Dream Big Grow Here was launched, featuring $1,000 monthly grants awarded online to emerging and existing Iowa small business owners who uploaded their 'dreams', then encouraged friends, family and other business owners to vote for them. Wildly popular,
Dream Big Grow Here attracted 63,489 visitors during the five month beta test.
Given the success of Dream Big Grow Here and increased interest in online resources among innovators, the RBC approached a small group of statewide sponsors to provide matching funds for regional contests-with cash awards of $5,000- and fund a statewide pitch-off among winners for a grand prize of $10,000. The Iowa Bankers Association, The Technology Association of Iowa, Renew Rural Iowa, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Area Development Group, and the Community Vitality Center all responded, forming a collaborative team.
Contest Opportunities!
This statewide team seeks eight, regional economic development groups to host a $5,000 regional Dream Big Grow Here Contest between April and September 2011. All regional contest winners will be invited to participate in a statewide pitch-off party hosted via live video streaming this fall for a $10,000 grand prize judged and awarded by the sponsorship team.
Contest Host Qualifications
To qualify to host a regional contest in 2011, regional economic development organizations must agree to serve a minimum of four counties with their contest, pledge matching funds of $2,500 to equal a $5,000 contest award and vigorously promote the contest within entrepreneurial community they serve. Organizations must show proof of matching funds, offer a marketing strategy to publicize the contestants, and agree to participate in the statewide pitch-off party in October of 2011.
Challenge Grants
Each of the eight regional contests will receive a $2,500 grant to fund their $5,000 regional contest, become eligible to compete in the $10,000 pitch off, and receive administrative and technology support to host a regional contest.
Contest Management
Regional contest hosts will have the ability to customize the contest rules to meet their particular entrepreneurship development goals, brand their organization online at Dream Big Grow Here and to manage contest entries and online conversations. A .25 FTE UNI MyEntre.Net staff will recruit celebrity bloggers, develop press releases and marketing materials, produce videotapes of regional winners and train local hosts in how to use the online technologies.
Marketing
All contests will receive regionally customized e-vites/social media marketing campaigns in support of their contest. Regional contest hosts will be responsible for other local marketing efforts.
Contest Technology
Dream Big Grow Here is software as a service (SAAS) technology, which allows multiple concurrent business contests at www.dreambiggrowhere.com. From a landing page, contestants and voters will select their regional contest or choose an All-State contest (hosted by Renew Rural Iowa) if no regional contest is available in their part of the state. Contestants will be able to upload videos, power points, photos or text as their entry. Networking will be encouraged through bulletin board technologies, blogs, and links. Voting will be based upon a universal set of guidelines across all contests. All entries are archived, viewable at later dates and connected to the resources and services at MyEntre.Net.
Application
Interested economic development organizations should contact any sponsor listed below, then complete the application form to be considered. Applications will be considered on a first come, first serve basis and awarded in part, upon geographic distribution.