Officials with Iowa Western Community College say the IWCC Department of Economic and Workforce Development and Small Business Development Center, has partnered with the University of Northern Iowa and will participate in the state wide contest “Dream Big Grow Here”. Dream Big Grow Here is a contest for Iowa small business owners and Entrepreneurs created by the UNI MyEntre.Net team. Businesses can win up to $15,000 to help start or grow their businesses. $5,000 will be awarded on November 1st to a small business or start up in Pottawattamie, Shelby, Harrison, Mills, Page, Fremont or Cass County.

The regional winner will go on to a state contest for a chance to win $10,000. The contest offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to upload their business growth ideas and/or start up ideas online at www.DreamBigGrowHere.com from September 10th through the 28th, then encourage customers, friends, family and community members to vote for them from October 1st through October 22nd. The top 5 vote getters from the Southwest Iowa Missouri River Region will than participate in a regional pitch off contest at IWCC in Council Bluffs on November 1st, 2012.

The winner of the Southwest Iowa Missouri River regional contest receives a $5,000 cash award (according to contest rules) and a chance to compete for $10,000 in a live, pitch-off during the statewide EntreFest! Conference in April 2013. The Southwest Iowa Missouri River Region contest begins September 10th. To participate, entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit the website to determine their eligibility OR an informational Dream Big Grow Here sessions that will be held on September 10th at Iowa Western Community College in Looft Hall.

Register for the sessions at dreambiggrowhere.iowabiztalk.com or call 712-325-3350. spitts@iwcc.edu. The contest upload phase begins on September 10th – September 28th when contestants will be able to go to www.dreambiggrowhere.com and fill out the questionnaire/application as well as upload a video, power point or photographs outlining their plans for growth and/or start up. The voting will begin on October 1st through October 22nd.

Contestants can encourage friends, family customers and employees, and fans to vote for them. The top 5 vote winners will be asked to present at the Southwest Iowa Dream Big Grow Here contest on November 1st at IWCC The Winner will be announced at the end of the evening. If you are interested in participating in the contest the Iowa Western Small Business Development Center offers free technical assistance and consulting for business planning, marketing, websites, pitches and more. You’re encouraged you to take advantage of the expertise the SBDC offers to make sure you are fully prepared and ready for the publicity you will gain during the voting phase. The SBDC will also help you prepare to work with social media and digital marketing so you are prepared to get votes during the voting stage. Dream Big Grow Here is sponsored by Iowa Bankers Association, Renew Rural Iowa, ISU Community Vitality Center, Iowa Economic Development Authority, VentureNet, Delta Dental of Iowa and Technology Association of Iowa.

For more information on the Dream Big Grow Here competition and for complete rules, go to www.DreamBig GrowHere.com or contact Sue Pitts at spitts@iwcc.edu. For help in preparing for the contest, contact Sue Pitts at the IWCC SBDC at 712-325-3350 or spitts@iwcc.edu.