Contest aims to help young, talented start-up make it in L-A

The L-A Economic Growth Council and the Androscoggin County Chamber want to send a message loud and clear: Lewiston-Auburn welcomes young, creative entrepreneurs – particularly youth who have roots in the community but have moved away.

To back up that sentiment, a number of local companies are willing to contribute what is expected to be about $100,000 or more in cash and in-kind services to the most promising start-up company.

As part of the “L-A: It’s Happening Here!” campaign, the Growth Council and Chamber are launching a new initiative that has an ambitious goal of connecting with youth who have roots in the community, and encouraging them to consider starting a business in Lewiston-Auburn.

The program, called “Launch L-A!,” features a contest inviting young entrepreneurs to submit a proposal to start a business in L-A. Entries will be screened by a committee of business and banking professionals who will judge the ideas on a number of criteria including creativity, viability, and community need. The winning entrepreneur will receive an equity infusion of $10,000 – $20,000 seed money, along with a number of in-kind services for a year, including business consulting, accounting services, legal fees, ad agency services, rent, and more — all provided by Chamber members. Runners-up may also receive in-kind services.

Bangor Savings Bank has already committed $5,000 to seeding the prize package.

The application will encourage ideas to be supported using digital applications such as video presentations, web sites, podcasts, and digital photos. Adding a page from the “American Idol” script, finalists will be voted upon electronically by members of the L-A community.

“The value of this program is not merely that a few innovators will get assistance to launch a business in Lewiston-Auburn,” says Paul Badeau, Marketing Director, Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council. “What’s perhaps more important is the message this sends to the world outside of L-A’s borders: namely, that Lewiston-Auburn welcomes young, creative entrepreneurs and is committed to helping them succeed.”

The Chamber will solicit members to contribute by providing in-kind services to the winner for a year. Sponsor companies will be recognized in various media and on-line promotion. Chamber President Chip Morrison explains that sponsors may also benefit by earning the entrepreneurs’ business after the contest is over.

Morrison says when it comes to sweetening the pot for the lucky winner, the committee working on planning the contest is open to any ideas for prizes: a hotel account for business clients, a business meal account at a local restaurant, car rental, office space, even housing for the entrepreneur. “The sky’s the limit,” says Morrison. “The more in-kind support we provide, the more we become a national model about providing entrepreneurs with community support, and ultimately, the more publicity the community — and our businesses — will get.”

“The contest is part of a broader initiative to connect and keep in touch with young people, particularly college grad “expatriates” who have graduated from local high schools,” says Wendy Tardif, a member of the event planning committee. “Using e-mail and social media like Facebook and Twitter, young people will get regular updates about the community’s ongoing renaissance.”

Although the “L-A: It’s Happening Here!” image and awareness campaign has made efforts to reach out to young adults over the years — namely, by hosting downtown walking tours with Bates College freshmen and launching a scholarship contest encouraging students to write essays about what they value in L-A – Badeau says the community, like many others, struggles to retain/attract young people.

“That’s often true of native sons and daughters who leave for college and don’t return, sometimes because they don’t perceive that gainful employment or opportunities can be found in Maine,” explains Laura Davis, a partner at Rinck Advertising who is also a member of the committee. “We hope people follow this story chapter by chapter.”

Rinck Advertising, an Auburn-based advertising and public relations agency, has contributed its services in-kind to developing the logo for the effort.

“We have what most young people want here in L-A: urban life, arts and culture, affordable housing, a riverfront, plenty of good restaurants, and talented people,” says Davis. “What we don’t have is enough recognition for our assets, and enough help for struggling entrepreneurs.”

Even if young people don’t return to the community for whatever reason, it is still important that they feel proud of their community in order to serve as ambassadors, stay connected to local institutions, and serve as future benefactors for local institutions, says Morrison.

“Will our youth return in droves because of this? Probably not,” answers Morrison. “But if we can help a few entrepreneurs get off the ground, and get young people with roots in the L/A area to feel proud of their home community, we will have been wildly successful.”

T.H. Creations, a Lewiston-based web site development company, will create a web site to promote the contest. Companies interested in finding out more about the contest and how they can be a part of it should contact the Growth Council at 784-0161 or the Chamber at 783-2249.

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