Three 2015 BCE business plan
competition winners will display
their products and services.

Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs will hold an open house from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, in its new offices at 110 S. Main St., Bluffton. The new office is located in the Citizens National Bank building and has its own entrance to Main Street. A ribbon cutting is planned at 2 p.m.

“The open house enables entrepreneurs in our service area to learn more about the benefits that BCE offers,” said Brendon Matthews, BCE board president.

Several events are part of the open house:

• The three winners from the 2015 Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition will display their services and products. Those businesses are Bluffton Pediatrics, Fresh Modern Fabric and 315 Walnut.

• Aphaphanh Nussbaum, graduate assistant in the Bluffton University master’s program, is now the assistant director of BCE. She will be at the open house to explain the 2016 business plan competition.

The 2016 business plan competition has two divisions this year. Both competitions offer prize money plus other in-kind prizes to winners. Divisions are:

• Start-up and Emerging Business Division, accepting entries from Allen, Putnam, Hancock and Hardin counties.
• Small Business Improvement Division, offered to businesses already established in the 45817 zip code area.

BCE Mission Statement
The Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs is a not-for-profit business support center offering professional assistance to entrepreneurs and small business in Allen, Hancock, Hardin and Putnam counties. BCE clients receive customized mentoring, make more connections with the business community, and gain valuable resources, including affordable office space, access to Bluffton University interns and work groups and promotion as BCE clients.

For more information about BCE contact Nussbaum at: [email protected]