2015 Calling All Dreamers Competition to launch Feb 10
Calling all dreamers: The Downtown Sacramento Foundation (DSF) is now accepting proposals for downtown business concepts for the 2015 Calling All Dreamers competition through March 23.
“We’re finding that entrepreneurs are not only drawn to the energy downtown, but want to be a part of the action here,” said Valerie Mamone-Werder Downtown Sacramento Partnership senior manager of business development. “With the arena and 700 block of K under construction and companies like Sports Basement and Kaiser Permanente investing in the urban core, there is a lot of momentum building. There couldn’t be a better time to be downtown.”
2015 Calling All Dreamers contestants will compete for a business start up package designed to provide the winner with the essential resources and tools needed to open a business downtown. The total prize package is valued at $85,000. This includes a cash prize of $10,000 in matching funds, up to 6 months of free rent, and a suite of business services.
Click here to view application, competition rules and prize package details.
“This competition is the essence of economic development,” said Ali Youseffi, vice president of CFY Development and DSF board member. “Calling All Dreamers is in a very focused and direct way enhancing the retail and business environment in Downtown Sacramento and encouraging an increasing number of entrepreneurs to choose downtown as the home for their business.”
Since the inaugural Calling All Dreamers competition launched in 2013, the DSF has worked with 82 aspiring entrepreneurs and helped 8 businesses get their start in the urban core including Andy’s Candy Apothecary, The Dailey Method, Ana Apple, Sun & Soil, South, Off the Chain Bike Bus Tours, Metro Juice, and Benjamin’s Shoes.
2014 Calling all Dreamers Grand Prize winner, Ana Apple, will open its first retail store in 114 K Street in Old Sacramento later this year. The quirky, eco-friendly apparel brand originally selected a space on 2nd Street, however, due to the complexities of that retail space’s configuration, it opted for a different location in Old Sacramento.
Ana Apple owner, Ana Mazano, is excited to put roots down in Old Sacramento to deliver a full guest experience, showcase her growing product line and execute the ideas that will enhance her brand’s impact.
“The Calling All Dreamers competition is an invaluable tool for cultivating entrepreneurs like Ana in our community,” said 2014 competition sponsor Joshua Stark, asset manager for One Capitol Mall Investments, LP and Angelo K. and Sophia Tsakopoulos. “We would have loved to have Ana as one of our tenants. We believe in her business and the importance of this competition. And so to get her started, we’re personally contributing $10,000 to match the cash prize the DSF awarded her. ”
The 2015 Calling All Dreamers competition is made possible by the generous support of the following sponsors who continue to be champions for the economic growth of the Downtown core and the Sacramento region: City of Sacramento Economic Development Department, Sacramento State, College of Business Administration, SMUD, Wells Fargo, Consolidated Communications, Colliers International, MarketOne Builders, MeringCarson, Inside Publications, Honey Agency, Brown Fink Boyce & Astle, LLP, Inside Publications, TDogg Studios, and SCORE.
