Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs has announced prize money, seminar dates and major sponsors for the first-ever Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition.

First place prize is $5,000 in business start-up costs and a one-year BCE client program membership. Second place is $1,000 in start-up costs and a one-year BCE client program membership. Third place is a one-year BCE client program membership.

Bluffton University, DTR Industries, Mustard Seed Cafe, Reichenbach and Steiner CPA's and WLIO TV, Lima, are the major sponsors of the competition.

Additional support is from Allen Economic Development Group, Bluffton Icon, Citizens National Bank, First National Bank, Samuel W. Diller and Mitchell Kingsley, attorneys at law, and Sielschott, Walsh, Keifer and Regula CPA’s.

This is BCE’s third business plan competition. This year the name was changed to recognize the late Ropp Triplett, long-time Bluffton industrial leader and entrepreneur.

“The contest is open to start-up businesses and emerging businesses that are less than three years old. The competition teaches entrepreneurs to write a business plan that will help them improve their existing business or to successfully start a new one,” said Denise Durenberger, BCE executive director.

Kathy Keller, director, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Lima, instructs all seminars. Each takes place at Bluffton University from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following evenings:

March 27: “Launch Your Business Right (free)
April 3: “So You Want to be an Entrepreneur” (fees and applications are due)
April 8: “Planning to Start a Business
April 15: “Developing Your Business Idea
April 24: “Testing Your Business Idea and Getting it to Market” 
May 1: “Accounting for Your Business” (time to be announced)
May 8: “Final Pitch Dress Rehearsal (business plan due, time to be announced)
May 11: Final pitches, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To enter the competition, contestants must complete an entry form and submit a $150 application fee. The fee for college student to enter is $75. The deadline to enter the contest is April 3.

For a copy of the entry form and additional information contact BCE at 419-358-6400 or e-mail [email protected]. Entry instructions are also in an attachment at the bottom of this story.

“Ropp Triplett leaves behind a legacy of leadership and creativity that blessed his family, friends and the Bluffton community.  As an entrepreneur himself, he was dedicated to the associates of his family business, the Triplett Corp. in Bluffton,” said Durenberger. 

“He was instrumental in helping Bluffton’s small businesses succeed and helped create a vision for the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs.  We honor Ropp for his commitment to our organization and the entrepreneurial spirit in our community through our Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition,” she said.

About BCE

The Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs is a not-for-profit business incubator offering support services and professional guidance to entrepreneurs and small businesses in Allen, Hancock, Hardin and Putnam counties. BCE clients receive customized mentoring, networking opportunities and access to developmental resources including Bluffton University faculty, student interns and affordable office space.

The Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs is housed on the campus of Bluffton University and is a collaborative effort with the local business community, the Village of Bluffton and the university.