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Believe in Bristol Announces 4th Annual Entrepreneur Grants Program — Training and $60,000 in Grant Money will be awarded!

December 28, 2016

For the fourth year, Believe in Bristol will continue to build on their downtown entrepreneurial program. Thanks to a grant partnership with the Tennessee Main Street Entrepreneur Grant, the Virginia Community Business Launch Program and Wells Fargo, Believe in Bristol will facilitate the largest grants given to date with the 2017 Entrepreneur Grants Program.

18 total applicants with interesting ideas will be selected for a 9 week CO.STARTERS training class; 9 Tennessee-based new businesses or expansions and 9 Virginia-based new businesses or expansions.

Applicants will be notified by Thursday, January 19th if they are selected to move forward with the interview process. Applicant interviews will be scheduled the week of January 23 – 27, 2017.

The grant money is contingent on all of the below requirements being met:

  • Opening or expending a business in the Historic Main Street District of Downtown Bristol VA or TN.
  • Participation and attendance in a 9-week training course called CO.STARTERS (materials and classes provided by BIB), class schedule can be found online at BelieveInBristol.org/business.
  • Becoming 1 of the top 6 business selected by a panel of judges during the final pitch day event on April, 22, 2017.
  • Opening or expanding your existing business by September 30, 2017 as all funds must be disbursed by Dec 15, 2017 or the grant will not be executed.
  • This reimbursement grant maybe used for property ownership, leased space, business licenses, professional training, utilities, computer equipment, restaurant equipment, and/or other business supplies. A formal request to Believe in Bristol along with documentation will be required for all reimbursements.

A Shark Tank style pitch event will be held the last day of class. Judges from all walks of local entrepreneurialism will score contestants and the winners will be announced that day.

Applicants may apply online at BelieveInBristol.org/business or in person at the Believe in Bristol office located at 36 Moore Street, Bristol, VA.