April 19, 2016

Owners of Easter House Bed and Breakfast, Ada, are winners of the Emerging Business Division of this year's Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs business plan competition, according to Brendon Matthews, BCE board president.

Owners Amy Eddings and Mark Hilan of Easter House, 508 N. Main St., Ada, will receive $4,000 over the next 18 months in business start-up assistance from BCE. 

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Cash awards of $6,000 were awarded this year. Prize money and gifts-in-kind went to five competitors. Winners were announced at BCE’s business expo at The Centre, Bluffton, in late March.

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Second place winner in the Emerging Business Division has an Ada connection. Paula Scott of Bluffton, owner of PS Editorial Services, is wife of Robert Scott, member of the ONU faculty.

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Winners Emerging Business Division –
• First place – Easter House Bed and Breakfast, Ada, $4,000
• Second place – PS Editorial Services, Bluffton, $1,000
• Third place – Winding Roads Antiques, Wapakoneta, $500

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Winners Established Bluffton Business Division
• First place – The Dough Hook, $1,000
• Second place - CG Pro Bikes, $500 (gifts-in-kind)

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This is the sixth year of BCE’s Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition. Since its inception BCE has awarded $36,000 in prize money to 21 business winners. All of the prize money comes from local businesses that support BCE’s programming.

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Competition businesses participated in an eight-week winter business plan competition course led by Kathy Keller of the Small Business Administration at Rhodes State College.

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Competitors then made presentations of their completed business plans to a panel of judges. Scoring was based on several factors.  These included business plan concept, business opportunity, market, operations, financials and presentation of the plan.

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Winners have 18 months to use prize money.

December 9, 2015 

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Paula Scott of Bluffton will offer two workshops in January titled “Improving Business Visibility Online,” hosted by Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs.

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She will provide a brief overview of the workshops during Friday’s Dec. 11, chamber breakfast in the town hall.

“What happens when a visitor looks for your Bluffton business with a search engine or app?” asks Scott. “Don’t know. Or, don’t like what you find?”

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The hands-on workshop will help you improve the accuracy and effectiveness of your business’s online presence. Scott specializes in web content. She will coach persons attending the workshops on how to find and update online business listings, including search engine results, online directors and social media.

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Here’s an outline of what the workshops will cover:
• Improve accuracy, including contact information and descriptions
• Increase effectiveness, including visual appearance and search optimized text
• Use web role models to help focus your approach

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Workshops are from noon to 1:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15 and Jan. 29 in the BCE office, 110 S. Main St., Bluffton. There is a limit of three to four persons per session. The cost is $20 per person.

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October 23, 2015

 

Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs will expand its 2016 Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition into two divisions with six total winners, according to Brendon Matthews, BCE board president. This year’s cash and in-kind prizes total $6,500.

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The contest offers a Start-up and Emerging Business Division, accepting entries from Allen, Hancock, Putnam and Hardin counties. It offers a $4,000 first place, $1,000 second place and $500 third place cash award, in addition to several in-kind prizes.

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New this year is a Small Business Improvement Division. It is open to established businesses from the 45817 zip area. It offers a $1,000 first place, plus in-kind prizes.