Hormel Business Plan finalists announced

McCOOK, Neb. — Seven finalists have been selected to present their business plan and a chance at the $25,000 up for grabs in the Ben Hormel Business Plan Competition through McCook Community College’s Business and Community Education.

This year’s bi-annual competition received 23 entries representing nine different communities in the area. Of those, 15 were selected as semi-finalists and received scholarships to take the on-line Entrepreneurship Business Plan writing class offered through Mid-Plains Community College Jan. 16-March 10.

These seven businesses finalists have been selected to present their plans to the panel Thursday, April 13 from 1-5 p.m.:

KB Home Care, McCook

Citta Deli, McCook

Farkleberry’s, Hayes Center

Lamp Post Coffee and Boutique, Benkelman

Myrtle Health LLC, Imperial

On the Spot Services, McCook

Tornado Alley, Arapahoe

Following the presentations, at least $25,000 in business grants will be awarded.

This year’s competition was open to new business development in Chase, Dundy, Hitchcock, Hayes, Frontier, Red Willow, and Furnas Counties. Anyone with a business idea or a plan to expand a current business was eligible to apply.

Prize money can be used to develop business ideas or expand on current business with no strings attached.

Local sponsors allow the college to keep the program going every other year, for at least the next five years. Gold sponsors include Community Hospital, MNB Financial Group, McCook College Foundation and McCook Community Foundation.

McCook Economic Development Corporation is a silver sponsor. Bronze sponsors are AmFirst Bank, First Central Bank, Adams Band and Trust – Imperial. Media sponsors include: McCook Gazette, Hometown Family Radio, and High Plains Radio.

The Hormel Family Foundation was founded in 1999 by the late Ben F. Hormel to support MCC. Among his entrepreneurial ventures, Hormel operated the Chevrolet dealership in McCook.

When he died in 2002, he passed on the torch to his children and grandchildren, who operate the foundation today. The main objective of the competition is to stimulate entrepreneurship and support business expansion in Southwest Nebraska.