Opportunity for Indiana Entrepreneurs to Compete for a One-Year Free Lease in Downtown Marion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Opportunity for Indiana Entrepreneurs to Compete for a One-Year Free Lease in Downtown Marion

MARION, INDIANA, Thursday April 25th, 2019 — Entrepreneurs, businesses, and start-ups from across Indiana have a new opportunity to launch or expand their business concept in 2019. The Grant County Economic Growth Council is hosting Community Pitch Night, a shark-tank style business competition in which applicants compete for an all-inclusive “Business Start-Up Prize Package.”

The one-year free lease in Ridley Towers is the main feature of the “Business Start-Up Prize Package.” Ridley Towers is an exciting 7-million-dollar redevelopment in downtown Marion. Last year, Halstead Architect’s purchased the building and renamed it Ridley Towers. The redevelopment plans include: 30 units of market-rate apartment, professional office space, restaurant/café space etc. Previously home to Regions Bank and before that Marion National Bank, the building occupied the heart of Marion’s business district for nearly a century and remains Marion’s first and only skyscraper landmark.

The “Business Start-Up Prize Package” includes all the key ingredients to starting a business in downtown Marion, IN: one-year free lease; legal, strategic planning, tax, and IT consulting; branding, social media, signage, and promotional materials; and more.

Downtown Marion has seen massive private investment and redevelopment in the last few years. In just 2018, a total of eight historic buildings were purchase by local developers and several businesses were started. Community Pitch Night is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, businesses, and start-ups from around Indiana participate in the revitalization of Marion’s downtown commercial and historic district.

Applicants must apply by August 15th, 2019. Applications for Community Pitch Night can be found on the Growth Council’s website at: http://grantcounty.com/business/pitchnight/. The applications will be reviewed by a local committee and four applicants will be selected to pitch their business concept to a live audience and panel of judges on Saturday, October 5th, 2019 from 4pm-6pm.

The five judges include: Nathan Feltman (Co-owner of the Indianapolis Business Journal), David Hartley (CEO of Save On Liquors), Angie Rogers-Howell (Owner of Farmhouse Creative), Joanie Howard (Owner of destination restaurant Grains and Grill), and the audience (every individual who attends the pitch event will vote on their favorite business concept). Applications will be evaluated on three main categories: 1) financial viability; 2) community/building fit; and 3) potential to drive traffic downtown Marion.

The Growth Council sees Community Pitch Night as exciting opportunity to spur entrepreneurialism in downtown Marion and the greater Grant County community.  

More information at: http://grantcounty.com/business/pitchnight/.

Media Contact:
Mikayla Marazzi || mmarazzi@grantcounty.com || (765) 618-2786
Director of Marketing and Communications
Grant County Economic Growth Council