DOVER, Vt. (WCAX) – Do you have a intelligent business strategy, but deficiency the money to get it began? The southern Vermont ski city of Dover might be just the appropriate site to try and make it do the job.
Like several towns throughout our location, Dover was noticeably impacted by COVID-19, but officers are hoping to get inventive when it will come to sparking new business enterprise.
When you drive by means of the centre of Dover, you cannot assist but recognize a whole lot of empty storefronts. Regional officers say the corporations didn’t essentially shut as a outcome of the pandemic, but it did not aid. “We had been certainly down by way of COVID, by means of the ski period,” said Eric Durocher, the town’s financial development director.
The town’s community selection tax profits dropped by about 33%. But with the income it did consider in, the city is now providing a bunch away by way of the Dover Start Company Approach Level of competition. Any person can apply with an concept to open up a new small business. The greatest system will obtain $20,000 to get it off the floor. “On major of the $20,000, our community radio station, The Peak, has agreed to provide the winner $5,000 in cost-free radio marketing as effectively,” Durocher reported.
Dover’s most perfectly-regarded organization is Mount Snow, but Durocher says a distinctive business enterprise plan is very likely to have the finest shot at successful. “We don’t necessarily need an additional pizza shop or ski store. You know, we are hunting for a little something to enhance the current combine of organizations,” he mentioned.
Heather Pease has owned a flower shop in city for the final two decades. “Ever transforming, it is seasonal. So you bought your downtime and your uptime. You just get the stream,” she reported. She’s psyched about the contests and the probability of an additional year-round company coming to the spot. “I imagine more local community-based mostly perhaps. Probably some thing for equally the younger group, like the young ones and the elderly.”
Programs with be approved till September 17th. Finally, three finalists will be picked with the winner remaining declared in mid-November.
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