MARQUETTE, MI-- This year’s ten-day SmartPrize innovator and entrepreneur competition launches in downtown Marquette Friday.
Anna Dravland is Community Relations and Event Marketing Coordinator for Travel Marquette. She says 25 business ideas are competing in the adult category, and ten inventors are vying in the age 6 to 12 group.
But Dravland says the event isn’t just about competition.
“We really want to encourage people to have fun with this and get energetic about being an entrepreneur, and the economic growth of a new business can be very exciting and very fun,” she says.
The Ore Dock Brewery will have speakers talking about business concepts every night from April 3-7, and all exhibitors have partnered with a Downtown Marquette business to display their concepts.
Dravland says sponsors are awarding thousands of dollars in prizes.
“The Growth Award, for example, this year is a $7,500 cash award,” she says. “They’re also going to receive a $5,000 radio package and an additional $5,000 videography and photography package. Their total package with everything is going to be over $18,000 in prizes.”
For more information about events being held throughout the competition, go to www.smartprize.org.
