Southwest Virginia small businesses win Bristol casino pitch contest

BRISTOL, Va. (WDBJ) – 5 small companies in southwestern Virginia are celebrating after successful a pitch contest organized by Virginia Neighborhood Capital and hosted by Arduous Rock On line casino Bristol.

The dignity got here with a money award, and the potential for a unbroken relationship with the on line casino.

Brian Weber, Jacqui Sobieski and Riley Sobieski had simply returned to Virginia Mountain Vineyards in Botetourt County after we spoke Friday afternoon.

They have been excited in regards to the $10,000 test, but additionally the validation and visibility the award presents.

“We’ve so many individuals come right here and they’re astonished by the view. They appear to like the wines and have a very enjoyable environment right here, however they are saying why didn’t we find out about you,” Jacqui Sobieski advised WDBJ7, “so it helps us each from a enterprise standpoint, but additionally I feel it places us on the map.”

Virginia Mountain Vineyards was considered one of 5 winners, together with Anne Vaughan Designs of Floyd County, Beagle Ridge Herb Farm of Wythe County, The Orange Bandana from Montgomery County and The Pakalachian Meals Truck from Washington County.

The Southwest Virginia Regional Bristol On line casino Pitch Contest acquired 17 purposes from 11 counties.

Virginia Neighborhood Capital led the hassle with assist from a number of organizations, together with the Virginia Small Enterprise Administration, Associates of Southwestern Virginia, the Virginia Tourism Company, the Virginia Highlands Small Enterprise Incubator and the SWVA Small Enterprise Improvement Facilities.

And as Arduous Rock Worldwide builds a everlasting presence in Bristol, the corporate says it’ll look to the finalists as potential distributors.

Allie Evangelista is President of Arduous Rock Lodge & On line casino Bristol.

“Probably all 10 of them may very well be doing enterprise with us, short-term and long-term,” Evangelista stated. “Actually the winners can be getting a grant that may assist their enterprise and hopefully take it additional out, however yeah we’re excited to do extra enterprise with native organizations, however definitely ladies and minority owned.”

The everlasting Arduous Rock Lodge & On line casino is scheduled to be accomplished within the spring of 2024.

And Evangelista stated the corporate is dedicated to working with native companies.

For Virginia Mountain Vineyards that might imply supplying wine for eating places, reward outlets or maybe the on line casino’s personal personal label.

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