Businesses, Agencies Back USM Student Business Competition
Student teams compete for $10,000 prize
A number of local and state businesses and agencies have
contributed cash and pledged professional assistance to the
teams competing in the second annual Student Business Plan
Competition at the University of Southern Maine.
The yearlong competition requires student teams to develop,
write, and present business plans, vying for $10,000 in cash
and $15,000 in consulting services from local businesses.
The cash and service prizes presented to the winner of the
competition are raised locally. This year, competition sponsors
are:
Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer, and Nelson; Berry, Dunn, McNeil,
and Parker; Coastal Enterprises, Inc.; Finance Authority of
Maine; Flory Investments, Inc., Integra Strategies; Maine
and Company; Maine Small Business Development Center; Maine
Small Enterprise Growth Fund; Charles Moore; R.M. Davis, Inc.;
Rockwell Capital Partners; and USM Corporate Partners.
The sponsors donate funds and/or time in the form of consulting
services. The winning team then can start a business both
with cash in the bank and expert help in the areas of law,
accounting, finance, marketing, operations, and management.
"The Student Business Plan Competition will be the culmination
of a process designed to promote entrepreneurship, foster
interdisciplinary team work and recognize entrepreneurial
ideas at USM," said Valarie Lamont, director of the Center
for Entrepreneurship and Small Business at the university.
"We could not be more pleased with the support we have received
from the local community in making this valuable experience
part of the education experience at USM."
"By taking skills learned in the classroom and putting them
to practical use, the experience of competing lets students
polish their business planning skills before starting a new
business," said Richard Bilodeau, the competition manager.
The Student Business Plan Competition fulfills part of the
mission of USMÕs School of Business, which seeks to improve
teaching and programs by enabling students to apply the most
advanced theories to real business challenges. More information
is available from Richard Bilodeau at rbilodeau@rsn.com
or phone at 207-772-5000, ext. 337.
>more news releases
|
