Are you a fan of Shark Tank on ABC Network? If for some reason you’ve never heard of it, Shark Tank is a show that helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Entrepreneurs have to “pitch” their ideas or businesses to the “sharks” and if they agree to help out, the entrepreneurs get the funds.
Macomb County is doing its own version of Shark Tank with its Best of the Zest Food Competition Pitch.
“It’s our first ever food pitch competition from Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Committee,” says Emerson Krolewski, MCPED Economic Development Specialist. “The goal is to target those small businesses, help with their needs and help them grow.”
Krolewski explains that this would be to provide cash prizes and technical assistance through partners.
Who is eligible
Those interested in applying must meet certain qualifications, such as being either woman-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned or located in an underserved area.
There are also other requirements to qualify, including having 10 employees or less (not including owners), a brick-and-mortar business located in Macomb County, been in business since at least June 11, 2022, have less than $1 million in revenue, packaged food or beverage producers that create products from raw materials and have proof that they are in good standing with LARA (state Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) and have a MDARD (Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) license.
How to enter
Local entrepreneurs from Macomb County are asked to fill out an application by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2024.
“This has the potential to become an annual event,” said Krolewski.
What happens next
The applications will be reviewed and those small businesses selected for the “pitch” compete on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 at Velocity in Sterling Heights. There, they will present a five-minute pitch about their business in hopes of receiving one of the many monetary awards.
Winners will be announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. If you have any questions, contact Emerson Krolewski at emerson.krolewski@macombgov.org or call 586-942-0913.
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
