Small businesses can win big bucks in the Dough to Grow Award contest from Valpak, which offers prizes totaling $10,000 to small business owners in the U.S. and Canada.
Local Valpak franchise owners and sales professionals often hear the challenges of small business owners who want to expand but don’t have the capital. Valpak, with franchises in more than 170 cities in 45 states and four Canadian provinces, created the Dough to Grow Award as fuel so small businesses could rocket to the next level.
To enter Valpak’s 2nd Annual Dough to Grow Award, business owners simply go to the Dough to Grow site and write an essay describing how they plan to grow. Being a Valpak customer is not necessary. The contest runs from September 1st – October 31st.
Once nominated, a business needs to receive at least 100 votes in order to qualify. Businesses are encouraged to share their entry with friends, family, loyal customers and local supporters to build up their votes. The businesses with the most votes become finalists and eligible to win the grand prize of $7,500 or the runner-up prizes of $1,500 and $1,000.
Chuck Markos, the owner of Arizona-based Firebird CrossFit and recipient of the 2012 Dough to Grow Award, has put the funds from the award to good use – moving into a bigger facility and hiring staff. Markos started a CrossFit instructor training program and established a scholarship to help aspiring instructors achieve their certification goals. He’s also working to get his community involved by creating a regional CrossFit competition.
The contest is open to small businesses in the U.S. and Canada, with the exception of Quebec. The winners are chosen by Valpak after the careful consideration of a number of factors, including number of votes, creativity and energy in business growth strategy, demonstration of solid leadership and management, and positive impact on the community.
The contest is open through October 31st. Valpak will notify qualified nominees November 4 and will determine the top 10 finalists November 11.
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