Committee Will Grant Lease and Marketing to Eligible Business
By Abbie Digel
Outlaw Partners and Big Sky Town
Center’s private sector grant, the Big
Sky Town Center Business Stimulus
Grant, is now accepting applications.
This landmark grant will provide the
winning business with a lease on an
unfinished space in the Town Center,
and marketing for one year.
Phil Rotherham and Bill Simkins,
both of the Town Center and developers
of The Marketplace building
where the space is located, and Eric
Ladd, CEO of Outlaw Partners, LLC,
a consulting and marketing firm in
Big Sky, want to see the business operational
by end of the summer this
year, and successful in the long term.
“I know there are a lot of entrepreneurial
people in our community
who have great ideas and just need
a little help to get started,” said Bill
Simkins. “Our offer of a year’s free
rent and free media coverage could
make all the difference.”
The winner will receive the
commercial space provided by the
Town Center and Outlaw will provide an entire
years worth of brand marketing
and consulting – a combined package value that could exceed $150,000. The chosen tenant
will be responsible for all improvements
and additional build out.
The location is Unit 201 in The Marketplace – a second story space
that looks toward Lone Mountain and
is centrally located within the Town
Center. It encases tall windows, offering
a bright, naturally lit space that
will be easy to finish. “There is easy
access to and from the space with the
stairs and the elevator both directly
adjacent to the unit entry door,”
said Rotherham of this prime business
location. Added Simkins: “The
space overlooks Fire Pit Park and the
events that take place there, and it
has great visibility and signage opportunities
from the Spur Road and
Ousel Falls Road.”
“Opening the business itself is the
barrier of entry for a start-up ,” said
Ladd, who has been a community figure
in Big Sky for 12 years. “We want
the tenants of the space to be able to
focus on bringing a great idea to Big
Sky and we are here to help make
it successful. Having just recently
opened a business I understand the
demands it takes to launch an idea.
Every little bit we can provide should
hopefully help a great business open
in Big Sky.”
This grant was inspired from a similar
program implemented in Fargo, ND
that proved successful. This unique,
private sector grant program “is a
stimulus opportunity to incentivize
a new business opportunity in Big
Sky,” said Ladd. “Bill and Phil are
great partners in this cutting edge
method of helping out while also
looking to make a positive impact in
turning our local economy around.”
Ladd hopes this program will inspire
other developers in other communities
to do the same thing.
The committee encourages anyone in
Southwest Montana and the Western
Rockies to apply who has either a
business idea or is an existing business
that wants to relocate to Big Sky
Town Center. Applicants must meet
these criteria:
• Will the business be successful?
Sustainable?
• Is this a service that Big Sky
needs?
• Is it something new or improved
for the Big Sky region?
• Is there a long term vision and
viability of business plan?
• Who is behind the venture?
The application process is divided
into three parts. The applicant will
fill out a questionnaire explaining
their business concept and why they
deserve the grant.
Once reviewed, the finalists will
be announced, and at this stage
each business will have until May
21, 2011 to submit a comprehensive
business proposal that should
include financial projections of
concept. Each finalist will present a
‘pitch’ on their business to the committee
and explain why they should
receive the grant.
The winner will be announced on
June 3, 2011 at a Town Center reception.
“We are committed to help build a
brand for whatever business is chosen
and to really stand behind it,”
said Ladd. “When Outlaw Partners
opened, our entire team vowed to
be an integral part of our community
and this is another example
of our continued commitment to
giving back.”
Initial applications will be accepted
through April 8, 2011.
Application
[dcs_link icon=”pdf”
url=”http://www.theoutlawpartners.com/pdfs/op_grant_application.pdf”]Click to Download Application [/dcs_link]
[dcs_link icon=”pdf”
url=”http://www.theoutlawpartners.com/pdfs/market_place_brochure.pdf”]Market Place Brochure [/dcs_link]
