On Thursday evening, entrepreneurs and business leaders gathered for the final event of the inaugural Ignite Schuylkill competition to determine the recipient of the $100,000 in capital funds.
Last year, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce announced its plans to host an entrepreneur competition named "Ignite Schuylkill." This initiative was designed to support and guide emerging entrepreneurs in growing their early-stage businesses. The competition was the brainchild of Savas Logothetides, who had also organized a similar event, Launch Pottsville, in the previous year.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors, the competition was able to award $100,000 in capital funds to the winning business. Eleven businesses initially entered the competition and participated in sixteen weeks of classes and site visits to Schuylkill County businesses to learn about business growth.
After four months, the field was narrowed down to seven competitors, who then underwent rigorous hour-long interviews with a panel of seven judges. Ultimately, only four businesses advanced to the final event on Thursday night at Veteran's Memorial Hall in Orwigsburg.
Judges for the competition were:
- David Snyder - a SEDCO Board member
- Seth Hubler - Outreach Director for Pennsylvania Senator David Argall
- Bill Metzinger - CEO of Red, White, and Blue Auto and President of Metz Properties LLC
- Attorney Lori Guzick - Williamson, Friedberg & Jones
- Micah Gursky - Rural Health Clinic Administrator and Director of Business Development and Government Relations at St. Luke's Miner's Campus
- Tammy Joseph - Purchasing Manager at D.G. Yuengling & Son
- Joseph Drasdis II - owner of Drasdis & Son Men's Clothier in Downtown Pottsville
Those businesses were:
- HomeBox by James Metsopulos - A company that converts shipping containers into affordable housing and other spaces
- The Farm Store by Angela and Josia Meck - A company that addresses the lack of an accessible grocery store in downtown Pottsville and only sells products that are grown or produced on local farms.
- The Villa by Lexis Brownstein - A restaurant space in Coaldale that was converted into a unique fine dining experience, along with a lounge, private event space, and more.
- The Rosalia Hotel by Hannah Corbacio and Nick Hair - A company that converts a former bank building in Pottsville into a hotel.
Thursday night's event began with a cocktail hour, allowing attendees to interact with each participant. Homebox showcased a mockup of one of their homes to demonstrate the potential of a shipping container, transformed within a week. The Villa offered samples of their unique food concepts. The Rosalia Hotel highlighted its amenities. And the Farm Store displayed its future product offerings.
At 6:00 PM, the presentations commenced. Each participant had fifteen minutes to pitch their business, detail its offerings, and outline its growth strategy. The judges then had five minutes to ask final questions before deliberating.
Within fifteen minutes, the judges reconvened and announced the winner. Emcee John Powers of Ashland Technologies built anticipation before declaring the Farm Store the victor.
Josia Meck, fighting back tears, accepted the honor while his wife and business partner, Angela, cared for their four-day-old baby at home.
