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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Montevallo Main Street has announced three separate businesses as winners in the 2024-2025 Bright Ideas Business Pitch Competition.

The competition was open to businesses who had been in operation in the Main Street district for more than one year as of Oct. 1, 2024. The competition is the second phase of Montevallo Main Street’s implementation of AL Spark, an initiative of Main Street Alabama supported by the Small Business Administration.

“AL Spark is designed to energize emerging and growing businesses in designated Main Street Alabama communities across the state,” read a release from Montevallo Main Street. “AL Spark serves Montevallo through three key programs—Livewire (business development), Illuminate (marketing grants) and Bright Ideas (business pitch competition).”

The winners of the Bright Ideas Business Pitch Competition won a share of Montevallo Main Street’s $10,000 Bright Ideas local grant pool. Main Street Tavern won the $5,000 top prize, while Falcon Art Supply and the Dive Bar each won $2,500.

Eligible Bright Ideas grant uses and expenses are limited to inventory, equipment, marketing, computers and software upgrades. Main Street District businesses were invited in January to submit a pitch about how they would utilize the funds and the ways in which that would impact their business and downtown as a whole. A judging panel of volunteers reviewed applications and made decisions based on the anticipated impact of each proposal.

Main Street Tavern plans to utilize the grant funds for equipment upgrades, including new booths and a computer. The restaurant is Montevallo’s choice to move on to the Regionals Competition in March.

Falcon Art Supply will use its grant funds for new shelving and inventory, while the Dive Bar will spend the grant funds on security upgrades.

Courtney Bennett, the executive director of Montevallo Main Street, further detailed the selection process for the Bright Ideas competition.

“Businesses located within the Main Street District were invited in January to submit an initial written application detailing what they would do with prize money, and our three finalists were asked to submit their pitch in the form of a video,” Bennett said. “Based on the videos, the volunteer judging panel determined the top prize winner and Montevallo’s selection to move on to the Regionals competition.”

She added that Montevallo benefits greatly from the AL Spark initiative as a whole.

“An integral part of Montevallo Main Street’s mission is to strengthen the heart of our community and enhance existing businesses,” Bennett said. “AL Spark enables us to give businesses more tools that can impact not only their business, but our Main Street District as a whole. It allows business owners to have the financial resources to make improvements that they otherwise would not have been able to make.”

The initiative will not only impact businesses in Montevallo, but visitors to the city as well.

“We have already seen a big increase in tourism over the past few years, and know that the new Cobblestone Hotel planned to be built downtown this year will grow that even more,” Bennett said. “Businesses who received Bright Ideas grants will be better positioned to make a good impression on visitors through improved seating and technology, an inviting gift section that can be seen from the sidewalk and improved security infrastructure.”

With the Main Street Tavern moving on to the Regionals Competition, Bennett took the time to explain the contest in further detail.

“Main Street Alabama divided the state into three regions, and the finalist from each Designated Main Street Community is required to complete some business course modules, as well as submit a three-minute video pitch about their idea and how they would invest Bright Ideas grant funds to help expand or grow their business,” Bennett said. “Judges will choose one winner and one or two runners-up, who will then move on to the state finals in August.”

Bennett concluded by emphasizing that Montevallo Main Street seeks to bring back the contest again next year.

“We are hopeful that this is an opportunity we will have again next year,” Bennett said. “It is contingent upon Main Street Alabama receiving funding from the Small Business Administration again for this initiative. We deeply appreciate this opportunity to support our downtown businesses and look forward to continuing a long and fruitful partnership with Main Street Alabama and the Small Business Administration.”

For more information on Montevallo Main Street, visit Cityofmontevallo.com/MontevalloMainStreet.aspx.