Rawlins DDA Main Street Works With Impact 307 To Bring Challenge To Carbon County

February 9, 2024 |

Photo – Carbon County Challenge logo – Courtesy Impact 307

The Carbon County Start-Up Challenge is looking for entrepreneurs with business ideas that benefit the area.

Rawlins Downtown Development Authority Mainstreet has teamed up with Impact 307 to hold the second annual Carbon County Start-Up Challenge.

Since Monday, February 5^th, the Start-Up Challenge has been soliciting business ideas. DDA Mainstreet Executive Director Pam Thayer said the Challenge will review the submitted proposals and choose to fund ideas that fit within the program’s guidelines.

Thayer encouraged everyone with a business idea to enter the Carbon County Start-Up Challenge. However, Thayer said Challenge participants must be willing to adapt to suggestions from the business advisors.

Thayer said the Carbon County Start-Up Challenge has no limit on the number of people who can apply, but all applications must be submitted by February 23^rd. The DDA Mainstreet director said the finalists will be announced in the middle of March.

After the finalists are chosen, advisors from Impact 307, Wyoming Small Business Development Center, and Rawlins DDA Mainstreet will help the applicants further develop their business concepts. On May 15^th, the finalists will present their proposals before the public and a panel of yet-to-be-selected judges. Thayer said the town of Sinclair has generously offered its historic theater for the event.

Thayer said applicants need to be aware that the Carbon County Start-Up Challenge isn’t designed to financially support an entire business. While more seed funding is available for this year’s event, Thayer said the money will only be used to bring an idea into fruition.

Thayer said the Carbon County Start-Up Challenge is primarily funded by Impact 307 and the Wyoming Small Business Development Center. The DDA Mainstreet director said by next year, she hopes to have the entire event run by local agencies.

For more information or to apply for the 2024 Carbon County Start-Up Challenge, visit ccwyohub.org. You may also call local Impact 307 business advisor Josh Keefe at 631-9133.

The registration deadline is midnight, February 23^rd. Applicants must be residents of Carbon County.