Epworth Heights to Award $5,000 to One Winner

The Chamber Alliance and Epworth Heights invite Mason County entrepreneurs to apply to the Momentum 5x5 Competition for a chance to win $5,000 in start-up funds. Five finalists will be chosen to each present a 5-minute pitch on Tuesday, August 11 at Epworth. 

Interested entrepreneurs with a new or existing business idea can apply now; no formal business plan is required. From the applications, five finalists will be selected to present their business ideas to a panel of judges at Epworth Heights. One winner will receive $5,000 in this "Shark Tank"-style event.

The Chamber Alliance administers the Momentum 5x5 program to encourage new businesses in Mason County and participants who may need start-up funds to get their ideas moving forward. Epworth sponsors both the prize money and the pitch night event.

“Momentum 5x5 Pitch Night aims to empower entrepreneurs and spark new business growth across Mason County. The competition offers a meaningful platform for innovative ideas to secure both support and funding,” said Brandy Miller, president and CEO of the Chamber Alliance of Mason County. “We deeply appreciate Epworth’s ongoing partnership in advancing this effort and investing in our growing entrepreneurial community.”

In addition to the cash prize, the winner will receive in-kind gifts from Epworth:

• An ad in the Epworth Annual.
• An invitation to have a booth at Epworth's early-season open house to inform cottagers about the business.
• An invitation to take the stage at next year's Momentum 5x5 to give an update on the business to the captive audience of both cottagers and the Ludington-area public.

This will be the eighth Momentum 5x5 in Mason County, all of which are held in cooperation with Epworth. Past winners include Sister Bees, My Inspired Studio (now known as Faire Heart), House and Harbor, Lakeshore Swim School, The SandBox, Kavana Bees, and Rizzo’s Bread.

For complete rules and information about how to enter Momentum 5x5, head to https://www.ludington.org/momentum-competition/. The entry deadline is July 10.