Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs (BCE) is inviting participants for this fall’s Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition, according to Eric Berdin, BCE director.

Several changes are part of this year’s competition:
• Classes are online
• Three divisions are in the competition
• The competition moved from winter to fall
• Participants will present their business plans during a catered dinner in November

Kathy Keller, Director of the Lima Small Business Development Center, Rhodes State College, will lead the course. She had instructed the course since its inception in Bluffton.

First class is Oct. 8
For the first time in the competition, classes are online. The first class is Monday, Oct. 8.  Classes focus on launching a business, developing a business plan, testing your business idea and getting it to market, accounting for your business, and financing your business.

Berdin said that each Monday new material will be available to participants.

The three divisions in this year’s competition are:
• Existing businesses with a Bluffton connection
• Students
• New businesses less than one year old

As in past years the competition is open to business owners in the four-county area of Allen, Hardin, Putnam and Hancock counties.

Upon the conclusion of the competition BCE will hold a catered dinner event in the Bluffton town hall. Participants in the competition will present their business plans during the dinner. The winners will be announced at the end of the dinner.

As in past years, cash awards and in-kind awards will be given to winners. The complete award package will be announced soon.

An entry fee of $100 is required to participate in the competition. Persons with questions or who are interested in entering may contact Berdin at 567-525-6667 or email at [email protected]. BCE’s website is www.blufftonentrepreneurs.com.

BCE's mission
BCE, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization’s mission is to provide resources – financial, intellectual, and technological – in partnership with local educators and business leaders that will facilitate and nurture growth of new and developing enterprises. Moreover, the center will ultimately enhance the greater Bluffton area, not only through job growth, but also by being a visible and sustainable sponsor and promoter of innovation that will continuously attract new entrepreneurs to the area.