SKOWHEGAN — Town revitalization organization Main Street Skowhegan recently announced winners of two local business competitions.
Amanda Leigh Clark was named the winner of the Main Street Skowhegan Savings Entrepreneur Challenge. Clark will receive more than $23,000 in benefits and incentives, including a $10,000 forgivable loan from Skowhegan Savings Bank to start her business, River Trail Counseling and Wellness Center, in Skowhegan.
Local winners of the Junior Entrepreneur Challenge were announced as follows:
Matthew Gallant, a junior at Mt. Blue High School, Farmington, was selected as the winner of the challenge for his business idea, Gallant Media. He plans to use his first-place prize money, awarded via a grant from Skowhegan Savings Bank, to fund his start-up.
Gallant, a participant in Mt. Blue High School’s Entrepreneurial Program, pitched his start-up idea in early March to the Main Street Skowhegan Business Enhancement Committee, which served as the selection committee for the three student finalists.
Gallant plans to use the $1,000 first-place prize to start Gallant Media, a business that will provide computer services, including website and mobile app development and computer network and software installations, to small- and medium-sized businesses in western Maine. Gallant’s homegrown all-in-one tool, Gallant WebMaster, will also allow clients to build and manage their own websites without any programming experience.
Second place in the junior challenge went to Smart Planner, an organizational app for students conceived by Madison High School students Emily Edgerly, Shelby Belanger and Katie Worthen. Madison High School will receive $450 of the $750 second-place prize, and the remaining money will be split among the three student entrepreneurs.
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