KEARNEYSVILLE — The Jefferson County Development Authority has announced the opening of registration for its Jump Start Jefferson program.
Interested businesses and individuals can begin to submit registrations Feb. 15 for the upcoming April program.
The competition, according to a release issued by the JCDA, will encourage participants to hone new skills or sharpen existing skills in support of their respective business ventures, while competing for grant funding throughout the competition.
The competition, the inaugural one for the JCDA, is designated as Jump Start Jefferson – to promote a jump start for local entrepreneurs. Through the program, they will be able to take courses from local industry experts over a five-week span to learn how to prepare and execute a business plan.
The initiative will be held in a classroom-style setting over the five-week period. Upon completion of the courses, participants will pitch their business plan to a panel of judges “Shark Tank” style.
Each week, an industry expert will share best practices with the participants. By the conclusion of the five weeks of courses, participants will have learned about the distinct parts of a business plan and how to prepare a business plan and will then pitch the plan to a panel of judges. The participants will be prepared, at the end of the five weeks, to meet with potential lenders to further their business ventures.
Each participant will receive a professional headshot, along with networking and brand-building opportunities. The winner of the competition will receive a special grant award of $5,000, as well as 11 credit hours from Blue Ridge Technical and Community College.
Additionally, the winner will receive a professional branding video highlighting his or her business and a one-year membership to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. The video comes courtesy of SC Studios.
Registration will go live at noon on Feb. 15 on the JCDA website — www.jcda.net. To find out more about Jump Start Jefferson and other JCDA initiatives, one may also visit the website.