Pitch Contests: Tillamook Economic Development “Level Up” Program Launches New Entrepeneurial Program with Opportunity for Businesses
The Economic Development Council of Tillamook County’s new “Level Up” progam sponsored three preliminary pitch contest in November, 2023, and the Grand Finale Pitch Contest, orginally scheduled for Saturday January 13th has been postponed due to the winter storm and will take place on January 19th, 2024 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the Partners for Rural Innovation (PRI) building at 4506 Third Street in Tillamook.
The six finalists will be competing for first place prize of $10,000; second place prize of $5,000; and third place prize of $2,500.
Congratulations to the Level Up Mini – Pitch Winners: Patrick and Amanda King, Country Squire Kitchen; Sunshine Swetland, Hello Sunshine Skincare; Janine Seadler, Tillamook Sunshine; Brittney Hudson, Brittney Bakes; Teresa Stoner, Sea Freeze Snacks; and Jill Shinn, J. Marie Salon.
Level Up Tillamook is a community initiative committed to developing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tillamook County to strengthen existing small businesses and innovators, and support the emergence of new ones.
The Tillamook Economic Development Council, Small Business Development Center and numerous community partners embarked on a project to build support for our Tillamook entrepreneurs. The group applied for and received a grant from the Ford Family Foundation’s Growing Rural Oregon initiative. (See links below for story and more information.)
As a results “Level Up Tillamook” was born. As part of this project, events are planned to encourage networking between current business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The preliminary pitches provided great networking and delicious appetizers, and the events highlighted a short presentation on an interesting, relevant business topic presented by a subject matter expert. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners to share and learn from each other.
The Pub Talks were qualifying rounds for the First Annual Tillamook Pitch Competition. The Mini-Pitch is an elevator pitch competition – an elevator pitch is a concise, compelling introduction to a business or idea that can be communicated in the amount of time it takes to ride an elevator (no more than three minutes.) The competition was open to small business owners wanting to launch a new product or service and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start a business in Tillamook County. A well-planned elevator pitch can open doors to success for future entrepreneurial endeavors and gives participants a change to move on to the First Annual Tillamook Pitch Finale to be held on January 19, 2024 with a first-place prize of $10,000.
For more information about the Level Up program, go to https://www.edctc.com/levelup-tillamook or Contact EDCTC and the Level Up staff at 503-842-8222 ext. 1430 or email to maria@edctc.com
For more information about EDCTC programs: https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/economic-development-council-of-tillamook-county-launches-gro-entrepreneur-program-to-grow-more-local-businesses-meet-greet-april-27th/