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.

The public is invited to enjoy free dessert and coffee from four area entrepreneur caterers and peruse displays of this year’s competitors. The family-friendly event will enable the public to also vote on their favorite dessert of the evening.

This is the eighth annual BCE business plan competition. Since its inception over $50,000 in start-up money has been awarded to winners.

Ten competitors in the Emerging Business Division and two in the Established Bluffton Business Division make up this year’s contestants. It is the largest number of contestants ever in the annual BCE competition.

Kathy Keller, director, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Rhodes State College, Lima, instructed a seven-week course taken by contestants, which started in January.

Contestants presented their business plans in a dress rehearsal two weeks ago and then to a panel of judges last week. The judges, all small businesspersons, were from outside Bluffton. Winners will be selected based on the judges scoring.