Win this space 2020 postponed

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The competition is open to all legal residents of Canada, 19 years of age or older at the time of submitting a business idea for the "WIN THIS SPACE" competition. The applicant must be living in the Province of Ontario. 

Proposed business ideas can be submitted for businesses, which would be independently owned by one person as a sole proprietorship or owned by 2 people as a partnership. Franchises will not be considered for the competition.  The business must conform to zoning by-law requirements. Contact Economic Development Coordinator Kim Kowch at 519-292-2043 or kkowch@northperth.ca for further clarification.

Yes you can!  If you have solid multi-tasking skills, then submit your idea. However, your business idea entry must be with the intent to introduce, open and operate a new business concept, not already promoted in your existing business/location. All home based businesses will be considered.

Certainly, go right ahead!  If you have a few ideas that are viable businesses for Listowel, then submit them. However, note that only one of your ideas can be selected to participate in the next stage of the competition, since candidates will be required to focus on only one business idea during the workshops.  It is imperative that if selected, you would focus your time and energy into detailing your concept so that you would have one solid Business Plan for submission to the Judging panel. Please note that all decisions made by the judges will be FINAL and not open for review or discussion.

Thirty contestants will advance to the next stage of the competition and receive a series of five FREE Business Plan Development Workshops. Contestants must attend the four mandatory sessions to move forward with the contest (the fifth is optional).  The sessions begin on April 22 and end on May 20.  They are every Wednesday from 9am to 12pm.  Business plans will be due May 29.  From there five contestants will be selected to present at a "Dragon-den" inspired event on June 10 where the winner of WIN THIS SPACE will be announced!

The WINNER of “WIN THIS SPACE” must commit to signing a minimum 1-year lease. Space cannot be rented until the completion of the contest.

By accepting the prize, the WINNER commits to using the cash prize for the first year’s lease of a space available, specifically for the “WIN THIS SPACE” contest. The winner will select one of the available spaces within the business district, as approved by the “WIN THIS SPACE” committee at the end of the competition.   

The Winner would need to commit to lease one of the available spaces by October 2020 of being awarded the title of WINNER of “WIN THIS SPACE”. The WINNER will be announced at the FINALE in June 2020.  Execution of a formal agreement between the WINNER and the Listowel BIA will be required prior to awarding any and all prizes. 

No, you are not necessarily expected to work in the winning space/business on a daily basis; however, the Business Plan created during the workshops and subsequently submitted to the judging panel must reflect appropriate salaries and related expenses. These would need to be detailed in your financials.

Your business idea entry and business plan submission may be seen by: 

· Lisa Schaefer, Coordinator, Listowel BIA

· Alex Toll Lender, Advisor, Agriculture and Rural Economic Development

· A Board member of the Listowel BIA

· A member of the WIN THIS SPACE 2020 Working Committee

· A past winner of the North Perth Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

· Winner of WIN THIS SPACE 2018

 All submissions will be kept confidential and all selections, judgements and decisions of the judging panel are final and binding.  

Please contact Lisa Schaefer, Listowel BIA Coordinator at lschaefer@northperth.ca or by calling 519-444-8233.  Best of luck to all who submit an idea! 

“WIN THIS SPACE” Contest Rules and Regulations will be made available to candidates, before, or at the first workshop.  Once the “WIN THIS SPACE” Rules & Regulations have been read, each candidate will be requested to sign and agree to the terms as specified.
 

“WIN THIS SPACE” contest Rules and Regulations are subject to change and updates will be posted on the Discover Listowel website.