(231) 398-3262
the Manistee DDA

& West Shore BAnk Present

Spark Manistee is a competition to encourage and incentivize entrepreneurs to open or grow their businesses in Downtown Manistee. Submit your next big idea today!!

View our flyer
SUBMIT YOUR IDEA
OFFICIAL RULES

HOw It works

Creators submit their new business ideas. 5 finalists present their ideas before a panel of judges and live voters on September 15th. The winner recieves DDA cash incentives and professional services to launch their local business!

Submission Deadline: 5 p.m. July 13, 2018

Top 5 Selection: July 18, 2018

Spark Manistee Event: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. September 15, 2018

2018 Winner 

Jamie Catlett – Manistee Men’s Grooming Company

 

2018 Top 5 

Jamie Catlett – Manistee Men’s Grooming Company

Shane DeVries – Lakeshore Tattooing

Tarrah Hernandez – Taco Bout It

Ronan O’Neill – Escape Room

Joann Snay – Artful Creations

5 IDEAS

Community members submit business ideas and the Spark committee selects 5 finalists.
These 5 local creators receive individual support from WSCC to create business plans.

5 MINUTES

Creators have 5 minutes and 5 slides to make their pitch to the judges panel and live audience on September 15th.

1 WINNER

The judges panel and live audience voting select the winning business idea. The winner receives a cash prize and DDA business incentives.

5K CASH

The winning business creator will receive $5k cash prize.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Professional in-kind business services such as marketing, accounting, and legal advice.

5K LOAN

The winner will be eligible for a low-interest DDA business loan, adding to the start-up cash on hand to launch their business!

Support local business growth

Working with and on behalf of the Manistee downtown business community, the Manistee Downtown Development Authority wants to make Manistee a great place to live, work and build a business. Help support entrepreneurial spirit in the Manistee downtown through one of three levels of sponsorship. Your financial or professional consulting sponsorship will make someone’s dream a reality. See sponsorship form for details.
Sponsorship form