ENTERPRISE 2007 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Over $25,000 in cash and in-kind awards to winners

1st Place - Angelo Kidney Connection                 2nd Place - Hands of Grace

The Concho Valley Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CVCED) announced the winners of Enterprise 2007, the San Angelo Business Plan Competition.  Donna Osborne, the Executive Director for the CVCED, made the announcement at the regular board meeting of the City of San Angelo Development Corporation, which provides the cash awards for the competition.

Enterprise 2007 is a competition that provides an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to develop business plans that have the potential to build new ventures or expand existing small businesses.  The CVCED received several applications for the 2007 competition, and three were selected for advancement to Phase II.  The semi-finalists were required to submit a draft business plan and make a 20-minute presentation to the judging panel.  The judging panel provided feedback to all semi-finalists, and recommended two for Phase III of the competition.

Angelo Kidney Connection and Hands of Grace, both of San Angelo were selected as the two finalists.  Both participants were required to submit a final business plan incorporating recommendations from the judging panel, and deliver a 30-minute presentation to the judging panel on their final plans.  Melanie Robledo of Angelo Kidney Connection accepted the first place award and received a cash grant award of $15,000, plus over $2,300 of in-kind services.  Grace Felder of Hands of Grace accepted the second place award and received a cash grant award of $10,000, plus $2,000 of in-kind services.

In-kind services that were awarded include: $2,000 of accounting services from Oliver, Rainey & Wojtek; $500 of free advertising from the San Angelo Standard-Times; $500 of matched advertising from Regency Broadcasting; $250 gift certificate from Bill Neil Specialty Advertising; $200 gift card from Office Depot; $125 in business cards from Q’s Printing; and $50 service gift certificate from Company Printing.

The CVCED is a business incubator that coordinates the business plan competition.  Business incubation is a small business support process that accelerates the successful development of start-up and fledgling companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources and services.  The CVCED also provides clients access to appropriate rental space, flexible leases, shared basic business services and equipment, technology support services, and assistance with access to other resources necessary for growth.