(OSKALOOSA, Iowa) – Do you have a great business? Have you always wanted to own a business in downtown Oskaloosa? Is your current business planning to expand services or add a new product line? Do you have a piece of equipment you wish you could purchase for your business?

Main Street Oskaloosa is looking for interested entrepreneurs who could use $28,000 to launch or grow their business idea within the Oskaloosa Main Street district. The Open 4 Business contest, launched in 2015, is an opportunity for businesses located within a state-designated Main Street district, to compete for a chance to win up to $28,000 in grant funds to assist with a business development or expansion project that will benefit the local community. Businesses must complete an application and submit a short video outlining their business idea and how it will benefit the local economic climate in their community. A 25% cash match is required. The grant funds are administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa program.

Stop by the Oskaloosa Main Street office to pick up an application and instructions for the local grant competition. Deadline for the local program is April 15, 2018 by 4:00 PM at the Oskaloosa Main Street office, 222 1st Avenue East. Each designated Main Street community may submit one local business applicant that will represent their city at the sub-state competition held on June 27, 2018. Sub-state winners will receive $8,000 and advance to the state contest which will be held in Waterloo, Iowa the evening of August 28, 2018. The state winner could win up to $20,000.
We encourage businesses to review the 2018 Contest Rules, Guidelines, and Program Information.

For complete details about this program, please contact Emily Brown at 641-672-2591, email ebrown@oacdg.org, or stop by the office 222 1st Avenue East.

-This information was provided in a news release from Oskaloosa Main Street.