Hormel Foundation prize could make a difference

You know the feeling. Almost everyone has had it. I'm talking about the excitement of a new business idea.

It can happen any time, any place. You get to thinking about how neat it would be to start a new store or offer a new service. You do the planning in your mind, going as far as picking a name, a place and a plan of operation.

But, too often, that's as far as it goes. Life gets in the way. You realize you don't have enough money or time, and the once bright business idea fades away.

If that describes you, it's time to go back to the drawing board. Because -- in an effort to inspire business start-ups -- the Hormel Family Foundation is offering a $25,000 prize to the person or person who comes up with the best business plan for the McCook area.

Everyone's eligible. All that's required is that the $25,000 award winner must be prepared to follow through on the idea by starting a new business or service in the McCook area and giving the Hormel Family Foundation a minority stake in the enterprise.

You need to get started now, because business plans must be submitted by May 22 to be considered for selection as this year's winner. Judging will take place June 15, so it won't be long before we know who will get the first prize.

There's no need to tell you: that's a lot of money. If your idea is worth its salt, the $25,000 could be a difference maker, transforming the idea into a going business venture.

To me, the Hormel family couldn't have given the community a better gift. That's because the real value of this competition is not that one business planner is going to get $25,000. The real value is that it's going to get all of us thinking about business development, and that -- more than any other single thing -- is the key to the McCook community's economic future.

Ben Hormel Harris, the grandson of Ben Hormel, came up with the idea. If his grandfather were alive, he would be very, very proud. Mr. Hormel, who came to the McCook in 1938 as this area's Chevrolet dealer, grew to love this town and make great contributions through business and public service.

As a memorial to Mr. Hormel, his daughters and their families established the Ben F. Hormel Technology Center for Business and Industry at McCook Community College.

Through the business idea competition, the Hormel family is taking another big step to encourage business development in the McCook area.

Don't dilly-dally. You need to enter. To get started, go to www.hormelfamilyfoundation.com and call up the contest details. You're also invited to contact Susan Harris Broomfield, the local project manager for the competition. Susan may be reached at (308) 345-4950 or by writing 1 Prairie Hills Road, McCook, NE 69001.

It's time to get to work. Refine your business plan. Submit it for consideration.

You'll have competition, because I'm going to be entering.

But, look at it this way: Win or lose, we are going to be better off because the plans we come up with could be the basis for a new McCook business. That's what the Hormel family is striving to encourage, and, because of the generous challenge they have set forth, McCook will be a better place to live and do business.