UPDATED The BCE website now includes information on the 2023 business plan competition HERE.

The Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs (BCE) has announced the return of the Small Business Information Series and Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition for 2023. These events are designed to provide support and resources for local entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Bluffton community and surrounding areas.

The Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition is open to any entrepreneur with a business idea or a business that has been in operation for less than 3 years. Participants will have the opportunity to compete for over $5,000 in prizes, as well as automatic entry for the Regional Pitchfest 2023 sponsored by the Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College (SBDC), the Lima Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Walter C. Potts Center for Entrepreneurship, with over $6,000 in prizes.

To help participants prepare for the competition, the Small Business Information Series will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. starting on March 7, 2023, and ending on April 11, 2023. The classes will be hosted locally on the third floor of the Bluffton Town Hall and will be broadcast live from the Borra Center at Rhodes State College. Online, remote class opportunities will also be available for those who cannot attend every session. The classes will provide the guidance and necessary instruction for participants to create a complete business plan, and those who complete the series will receive a certificate of completion from the SBDC.

The Small Business Information Series is sponsored by the Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College, the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs, the Lima Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Walter C. Potts Walter C Potts Entrepreneur Center.

"We are excited to continue providing support for local entrepreneurs through the Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition and Small Business Information Series," said Jim Enneking, Executive Director of the BCE. "These events are a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain knowledge, resources, and network with other like-minded individuals. We invite anyone with an interest in entrepreneurship to participate."

For more information about the Small Business Information Series and the Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition, contact the BCE office at 419-369-2985.