This is an effort to get something going in the Waverly commercial corridor along Greenmount Avenue. My daughter is working on this project. She didn’t ask me to, but I’m passing it along:
“Root to Success Contest,” part of the Growing Greenmount campaign between 29th and 34th Streets.
Winners will receive 12 months of rent-free retail or office space, business training and mentoring, legal assistance, financing opportunities, space design, community engagement, and marketing support.
The contest, open to both new and existing micro businesses, has entrepreneurs compete to bring their business vision to life in one of four available retail spaces in Waverly’s “Mural Building,” 3011-3017 Greenmount Avenue, at the fork of Greenmount Avenue and Old York Road.
In addition, two non-retail businesses will be awarded fully furnished offices at OfficeFlex Executive Suites, located just across the street, at 3030 Greenmount Avenue.
Applications opened on Wednesday, March 29th, and final submissions must be received by Friday, May 12th.
Applications may be made through the Growing Greenmount website.
The contest will include a business workshop series, open to all Baltimore entrepreneurs, which will take place the week of May 15th. Contest partners will host sessions ranging in topics from securing a loan to developing a marketing plan.
A panel of judges made up of Baltimore business people and members of local non-profits will select 12 finalists — eight retail-based and four office-based — who will then participate in a pitch contest, open to the public, to present their business plan to a second panel of judges from neighborhood communities. The four retail and two office winners will be announced in mid-June and will begin taking the first steps toward opening their businesses on Greenmount.
Root to Success contest partners include Maryland Small Business Development Center, Baltimore Community Lending, Neighborhood Design Center and Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Local public relations firm Himmelrich PR will conduct the business workshops and provide start-up and ongoing support to contest winners.
Dan Rodricks 