Open 4 Business
2021 O4B Competition
Are you a small business owner who has been in business for at least one year? Do you have a great idea to make your business better? Are you planning to expand services or add a new product line? Do you have a piece of equipment you wish you could purchase for your business? Have you always wanted to own a business downtown?
Main Street Ottumwa (MSO) is seeking entrepreneurs who want to grow their business within the MSO district to apply for the 2021 Open 4 Business competition and a chance to win $28,000. Grants require a 25% match and funds are provided through reimbursement.
Local Competition
Because each Main Street organization may sponsor only ONE applicant, MSO is holding a local competition to determine our representative business. The local application deadline is Friday, February 26 at 12:00 PM.
If more than one application is received, a panel of local economic development professionals will review, score, and rank the applications by March 5. MSO staff and volunteers will work with the successful business to complete the State application.
Detailed program information, including the local application form and scoring criteria are available in the "Documents" section below.
State Competition
Applications and video are due to be uploaded by March 31 at 4:00 PM. Five applicants selected will compete in the State contest at the Iowa Downtown Conference in Iowa City on August 2. Each finalist will receive an $8,000 grant. The winner will receive an additional $20,000 grant.
Contact Info
For complete details about this program, please contact:
Fred Zesiger, Executive Director of Main Street Ottumwa
641-682-3465 | director@mainstreetottumwa.com
or
Robin Bostrom, Business Specialist of Main Street Iowa
515-348-6176 | robin.bostrom@iowaEDA.com.