Small businesses located within Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group’s Main Street district and other designated Main Street Iowa districts are invited to compete for up to $25,000.

Main Street Iowa’s annual Open 4 Business program supports existing businesses and revitalization in the more than 50 Main Street Iowa communities. For the contest, entrepreneurs will outline a business development or expansion idea, such as additional services and product offerings or needed equipment.

Eligible businesses are for-profit and have been operating for at least one year in a Main Street district. In addition to the online application, applicants also must submit a short video highlighting their business project and how it will benefit their community’s economic climate. A 25% cash match is required.

Only one application is allowed per Main Street community. To determine which local business will represent Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group, businesses must complete the pre-application form by April 4. The form is available online https://visitmvl. com/business-resources/.

State competition applications must be submitted through the local program to Main Street Iowa by May 1. Main Street Iowa staff will review them for project impact within the designated Main Street district; business innovation; and opportunity for continued growth, enhanced revenue, and sustainability. Five finalists will advance to the state competition on Aug. 4 in Muscatine, where they will pitch their expansion ideas before a panel of judges.

Open 4 Business launched in 2015 and over the past decade has awarded dollars to over 50 businesses across the state. Grants are administered through the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs.

For complete details, contact Jessie Thurn at [email protected], or Brooke Prouty at brooke.prouty@ iowaeda.com