Potential Columbia County young entrepreneurs can strut their stuff during competition

The board chair of a Columbia County nonprofit is announcing a program that is reminiscent of the popular television show "Shark Tank."

The Youth Entrepreneur Competition, put on by Columbia County Helping Undo Barriers has kicked off in Columbia County, which will allow young men and women to pitch their potential business ideas to an audience.

Columbia County HUB is a nonprofit focused on guiding people through major life barriers, helping them reintegrate into the community.

“It is kind of a culmination of 'Shark Tank' meets 'The Voice,' and even a little bit of 'The Apprentice,'” HUB Chair Amanda Normine said of the program, noting that modern-day business really depends on who you are, your personality and drive.

“Our youth now has so many opportunities in front of them when they step into the world of business … one path is absolutely working for yourself," Normine continued.

The program is taking applications through July 15 for potential entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 to 25 — as of Jan. 1 this year — who wish to open a business within Columbia County. The business could either be store-front or online, as long as it’s a legal and established business.

Visit Columbia County HUB on Facebook for more information.

Normine said the HUB board wanted to empower youngsters, some perhaps not college bound, to follow their own dreams.

“We have a lot of kids who are out there and do that now,” she said. “If you go to many of the bazaars during the holidays, you see behind those tables there’s a lot of youth.”

Normine said the competition will award the winner with $12,500 — $5,000 being a grant and another $7,500 in the form of low-interest lending.

“The grant is really set to give these kids whatever they need to start the business,” Normine said. “Every contestant will be given a budget at which they can show us their stuff. They’re given X dollars and they get to show growth in either social following, or maybe they make product, and they sell it.”

Normine said, “We partnered with The Lodge (recently opened food carts in Scappoose), and on Aug. 22, we’re going to have a big bazaar there where all contestants will have an opportunity to meet the public. The public will judge who moves to the shark tank.”

Three finalists will compete for the $12,500 prize and a panel of judges will look at the plans.

In the fall, at a yet to be determined date, there will be a 'Shark Tank'-like presentation, and the winner will be revealed.

But Normine said, in effect, everybody is a winner.

“If you believe in you, other people will also believe in you,” she said. “When they come, even if they don’t win the money, they can get other people to believe in them and give money that is not necessarily through this program.”