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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-05-06, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Marco Vigliotti/Huron Expositor The contestants and organizers for Huron East's innovative Win This Space contest attended an introductory gala hosted at the Seaforth Golf Club on April 30. (Pictured) Huron East's economic development officer Jan Hawley, the municipality's deputy mayor Joe Steffler and some of the contestants. Win This Space contestants unveiled Marco Vigliotti Huron Expositor When the Win This Space com- petition was announced last month, organizer Jan Hawley said she hoped it would attract at least 10 serious applicants - maybe even 15 if she was especially fortunate. Her all -too modest projec- tions, however, greatly missed the mark, with 26 contenders stepping forward to submit pre- liminary business ideas in hopes of winning free rent for a year at a storefront in Seaforth or Brussels. The participants, publicly introduced during an April 30 launch event at the Seaforth Golf Club, are bringing forward a wide range of prospective retail opportunities, including an organic -focused cafe, quilt shop, photo studio and refurbished furniture store. "That is awesome," Hawley, Huron East's economic develop- ment officer, said of the number of applicants. "I'm overwhelmed by the response:' The contest, modelled after a similar promotion launched in the south-central Ontario township of Uxbridge in 2013, also grants the winner hundreds of dollars worth of in-kind professional services, as well as financial and marketing assistance. The concept, Hawley explains, is to inspire and nurture prospec- tive entrepreneurs in the munici- pality by providing hands-on marketing and business planning advice. All applicants must attend workshops organized by the Huron Small Business Enterprise Centre focusing on the fundamen- tals of starting a business from cost projections to advertising pitches. Each workshop will also involve assignments, research, and coach- ing on how to create a successful business model. Once completed, the entrants will submit their busi- ness plans to the Huron East Eco- nomic Development Department ./ ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm Sea Expositor 8 Main St., Seaforth PH: 519-527-0240 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com OFFICE HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 9am - 5pm CLOSED TUESDAYS lir to be reviewed by the Win This Space judging panel, which will then select the top five candidates. The finalists will attend a grand finale event sometime in June where they'll be granted one last opportunity to win over the judges with their concept and business model. Hawley claims that those who do not win will still benefit from the valuable know-how gleaned from the seminars and collective wis- dom of the experienced mentors who will offer guidance during the competition. "If you can complete the training -we have excellent con- sultants and mentors who are part of this - you're going to Cas .1171. .5rANL.fr6C .1121L :foi• J71'.6'11{11% L' rr.' :s rfrR/_'( '" To you A COMPLETE LINE OF C. i 1JAL FURNITURE TO COMP1.1.51T 1. ALL REP. OF YOUR 1111 '01 For outdoors, patios, garden [dr 'asg .ti dinnrf orrl. . II'e r 4ru urrrrrrbicsi cure cuthioin .F rauahrrffurs. '1•Iijnduv - Friday 9;lJO m SAM Saturday 10:00 - 4:00, Lfixbri a 4'.I �: rri irr �srr� lay . 519-238-2110 come out with a solid business plan and that's gold," she told the assembled crowd inside the scenic golf course's main build- ing. "You're not going to be alone, our goal is to see you through this process." Among the participants in attendance at the catered gala were the contest's first success stories - Jared and Heather Gowan who have since dropped out after securing a lease for a building on Seaforth's Main Street to open their proposed 24-hour gym. Both said they still plan to attend the free workshops. Joe Steffler, Huron East's deputy mayor, who was also in attend- ance, seized the opportunity to applaud the municipality for sup- porting the innovative contest, while chastising Huron County for "sitting back" on the economic development file. "(Huron County) became chair- man of the pity club and our popu- lation shows it - it's been declin- ing," he said of the county's sluggish approach to finding ways to rejuvenate the region. Steffler did commend the county for eventually creating the Huron County Economic Development, which works in collaboration with similar organizations set up by its member municipalities. As for Win This Space, he argued it could be a boon for the entire region, saying "what's good for Huron East is good for Huron County." While acknowledging that attracting businesses to rural Ontario remained difficult, Hawley said she thought the municipality was "overcoming that," with the contest acting as a "great kick start."