Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs

Five businesses are winners in this year’s Bluffton Center for Entrepreneur’s Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition.

Awards were presented March 21 in BCE open house in the Bluffton town hall. This is the 9th annual competition, according to Brendon Matthews, BCE board president.

Emerging business division winners

First place - Cutting Edge Woodcraft, Bluffton, owned by Nicholas Recker and Luke Keuneke, $4,000

Second place – Art Me!, Ottawa, owned by Kirstene Adkins, $1,000

Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs will award cash prizes and gifts-in-kind valued at $7,000 to winners of its Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition. The awards night, open to the public, is from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, in the third floor of the Bluffton town hall. Winners will be announced at 7 p.m.

BCE calls this year's event Bluffton Oscars and Dessert Wars.

Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs invites the community to meet this year’s Ropp Triplett Business Competition contestants and have some free dessert, thanks for local caterers.

The family-friendly event is from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, in the third floor of the Bluffton town hall, 154 N. Main St.

During the evening BCE will announce the winners of this year’s business plan competition. It has two divisions: Emerging Area Businesses, and Established Bluffton Businesses.

Julie Stratton of The Black Lab, 121 N. Main St., will present a free marketing  workshop following Friday's chamber breakfast in the town hall.

In the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs-sponsored workshop Stratton will present five key things that will help keep your business current with trends and keep your brand fresh to your customers.

She will provide practical tips on marketing, events, timing and managing fear and risk.

Chamber breakfast