Four area businesses selected as winners of the Biz Booster Challenge

Four Winneshiek County businesses have been selected as winners of this year's Winneshiek County Development, Inc. Biz Booster Challenge.

Winners are an acupuncture and Chinese medicine business by Brenda Harris of Decorah, The Clay Studio by Rachelle Reis Branum of Decorah, Pinter Gardens & Pumpkins of rural Decorah and the Winneshiek Energy District.

Biz Booster Challenge, which provides up to $12,000 in grant money to winners of the business-plan competition, was begun by Winneshiek County Development, Inc. to help cultivate local economic development by both inspiring and financially supporting local entrepreneurs.

In addition to submitting a detailed business plan, selected participants are asked to make an oral presentation before the seven-member judging panel.

Decorah resident Brenda Harris, whose acupuncture and Chinese medicine business is so new she hasn't selected a name for it yet, received $1,500 to assist in completing early marketing for the business, which opened its doors in January at 116 Washington Street, above Day Spring Spa in Decorah.

The Clay Studio, located at 207 Washington Street in Decorah, opened its doors last September. Since then they have collaborated with the nonprofit ArtHaus for 11 clay classes, attracted seven paying members and have thrown private parties for 14 groups.  Owner Rachelle Reis Branum said the $2,500 in Biz Booster Challenge funding will be used to help meet immediate goals such as solving space issues, retaining and increasing membership, increasing marketing efforts, decreasing material costs and using outdoor space at their facility.

Pinter Gardens & Pumpkins will use their $7,000 grant to further their playground equipment goal and to better market their new business.   Situated about four miles west of Decorah along Highway 9, their new facility is a new outlet for Pinter Landscaping and Tree Service, which has operated in Howard County since 2005.  The business was determined by the judging panel to be a "destination shopping site," drawing customers from throughout the region.

The Biz Booster Challenge also awarded $1,000 to the Winneshiek Energy District, targeting that award as seed money for additional grants enabling WED to purchase a vehicle that other grant funding will not provide for.   WED is a nonprofit organization working to reduce energy usage in Winneshiek County.