Local First committee offers prizes for McCloud business ideas

McCloud, Calif. -

The McCloud Local First Steering Committee has launched its first McCloud Basin Business Idea Contest with the goal of encouraging area residents, elected officials, business leaders and others in the community to share and develop business ideas that could create jobs in McCloud.

The three best business idea authors will each win $100 cash and $100 in gift certificates to local businesses. Winners will also receive a free consulting session with the Jefferson Economic Development Institute.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of McCloud residents, business owners, and JEDI.

“Starting local businesses that also create jobs for McCloud residents is critical to McCloud’s economy,” said steering committee chair April Gray. “McCloud has the innovation, creativity and commitment to launch successful, long-term businesses in our area, but we need to work collaboratively in order get the best results. This contest is designed to help facilitate this community collaboration.”

To enter the contest, ideas for businesses that would be located in the McCloud Basin can be e-mailed to jobsinmccloud@yahoo.com or dropped off at the McCloud Market, McCloud General Store or McCloud Mercantile by Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. Submissions should be no longer than two pages.

All business ideas must represent viable, sustainable businesses that create jobs for McCloud residents, according to a steering committee press release. Business ideas that are locally owned and operated, fill a niche in the local market, and have potential for export markets will receive extra consideration.

Submissions should include the following information:

• Who will be working on the project (is it just you, or do you have a team?)
• Description of your product or service.
• Name your market (who will purchase your product or service? Extra consideration for developing a local market.)
• How will your business make money? How much will people be paying for your product or services?
• Besides creating jobs, what environmental or social contributions does your business make?
• How many jobs could your business provide?

“By inviting all area residents to submit their ideas and then sharing those ideas with a robust panel of judges, we hope to broaden our community’s ability to create local jobs,” said Brian Stewart, steering committee member and new McCloud Community Services District board member.

All submissions will be delivered to the judging panel on Thursday, Jan. 22. The judges will return their scores Jan. 26. The three contest winners will be announced at the McCloud Local First Steering Committee community meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Scout Hall. Contest winners will present their business idea and receive their prize.
About the McCloud Local

First Steering Committee

The McCloud Local First Steering Committee formed this year to facilitate the development of a local first initiative and business alliance based on the BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) network model, and to pursue ideas generated at the Michael Shuman community meeting. The current steering committee includes McCloud residents and business owners, supporting agencies such as the McCloud Chamber of Commerce and stakeholders including McCloud Watershed Council, JEDI and California Trout. The committee operates by consensus and is chaired by April Gray and vice-chaired by Robin Singler.