By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – Around 80 Wabash County leaders and small business owners and their families packed into Filament Tattoo on East Canal Street Tuesday morning to hear an announcement from Wabash Marketplace, Inc., Executive Director Steve Downs that Wabash has been selected as one of two finalist cities in the Small Business Revolution on Main Street contest. The contest, sponsored by Minnesota-based Deluxe Corporation, will award $500,000 worth of marketing services, business advice and other support and improvements for mainly downtown businesses in Wabash. These services include specific advice by Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank, who will visit the winning city and feature the town in a internet TV series. Chief Brand and Communications Officer for Deluxe, Amanda Brinkman on what happens if Wabash wins.
Brinkman added that the prize is not necessarily an influx of cash. Visit Wabash County’s Christine Flohr said that what is left after the marketing and possible cash influx will be used for esthetics in chosen businesses. Herjavec on the service he’ll personally provide to the winning city.
In addition, each person who votes on their favorite city can also win a trip for two to the winning city and a lunch with Herjavec.
Wabash is now in direct competition with the other finalist city, which is Silverton, Oregon. Anyone can vote on their choice of finalist city by voting on one device one time per day at www.smallbusinessrevolution.org. The city that receives the most votes will win the $500,000 of mainly services and exposure. The winning city will be announced on May 12th.
MiBash News reached out to Downs who said that he gave a list of local businesses to Deluxe and that they chose the six or so local business leaders to be in the promotional video that was made and is available to watch online. He added that the actual businesses that will receive the help will be chosen by Deluxe. While it is unknown exactly how many businesses will benefit if Wabash wins, Downs said that he expects the number to be a dozen or so. Brinkman said that the vast majority of businesses they looked at are in the downtown area due to the “main street” nature of the contest.
