Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge 2009 business plans are due January 19th by 5pm. This year has been a success, with an average workshop attendance increase of about 15% this year and an an increase in applicants to the program as well. The Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge provides a unique opportunity for businesses to receive funding to help their business grow , while also benefiting from the many entrepreneurial resources that Amarillo has to offer including relationships with the WTAMU Enteprise Center, the WTAMU Small Business Development Center, the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation and a panel of highly successful entrepreneurial minded judges
The insight that judges can provide entrepreneurial companies in this process has proved invaluable. According to Wade McKinney, 2007 AEC recipient, “With funding provided by the EnterPrize Challenge and the expert advice and resources of the WTAMU Enterprise Center, our start-up company has developed two new products and pursued new market opportunities that will accelerate our business growth.”
Judges for the 2009 Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge include:
Dr. Anne Macy, Gene Edwards Professor of Finance and Director of the College of Business Student-Managed Investment Fund at West Texas A&M University.
John Marmaduke, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Hastings Entertainment, Inc.
Chris Stewart, Transactional and litigation attorney specializing in copyright, trademark, trade secret and computer law.
Don Sanders, Owner of Sir Speedy Amarillo a franchise document management company.
Mark Marrs, Senior Vice President of commercial lending with Interstate Bank, ssb.
To date, 37 businesses have received cash grants of as much of $75,000 each, totaling over $1.9 million in grants over the last thirteen years. Altogether, these firms have created 312 new jobs and bring more than $24 million into the Amarillo economy. In addition, these companies have invested over $5 million in additional capital since receiving their grants.
The Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge is a program of the WTAMU Enterprise Center that is funded by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation. The mission of the West Texas A&M UniversityEnterprise Center is to grow and diversify the economic base of Amarillo and selected regional communities by utilizing the tools of business incubation, business development and entrepreneurial education.
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