FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kylie Fanning

May 9, 2016 Public Relations Coordinator

(580) 242-2750, Ext. 226

Cherokee Strip Business Model Competition Winners

ENID, OKLA.  The 2016 Cherokee Strip Business Model Competition has come to a close. The winners were announced May 9 at the awards ceremony at the Enid Event Center. Eight businesses submitted their business plan in the competition.

First place went to Dandy’s Donuts, Deli and Delights. This will be a new food establishment in Enid serving donuts, pastries, soups, sandwiches, gourmet coffee and gelato. Darla and Andy Campbell along with Darla’s parents Bob and Kathy Keiser are the owners. The first place prize was $10,000.

“The business classes [at Autry] helped us know how to do so many things and make changes we never would have thought of,” said Darla. “This money will help us as we try to open debt free.”

Second place was a tie between Blackjack Services and Freedom Defender Firearms. They each received $4,000. Blackjack Services is located in Fairview and provides roll off dumpster service in Northwest Oklahoma as well as roadside service, towing and weed control. Freedom Defender Firearms is a gun shop located in Garber. They sell firearms, accessories, and outdoor sporting equipment with a focus on service after the sale.

Fourth place received $1,000 and went to Enid BMX, Inc. who also received the People’s Choice Award and an additional $1,000. Enid BMX, Inc. is a non-profit organization that will manage a new BMX track in south Enid with a focus on continuous youth development and achievement.

All winners receive one year of Self Employment Training client status. SET status includes access to the James W. Strate Center for Business Development during business hours to use the conference room, copier, printer, plan room, computer with adobe suite, and three business coaching sessions.

To be eligible for the competition, businesses had to be in the Enid and Northwest Oklahoma area and less than five years old. The competition consisted of three phases: submission of a business plan, a ten-minute presentation, and a third presentation in front of a judging panel. Judges were a diverse group of professionals with experience based in academics, investment, financial institutions, entrepreneurship and business. Funding for the competition is provided in combined effort by donors in the Enid Entrepreneur Leadership Series.

Autry Technology Center has been a part of the Enid community since 1967 and is one of 29 CareerTech schools across Oklahoma. The center has more than 25 career programs and offers a wide variety of evening and weekend short-term courses and certifications for many diverse career fields. Autry serves nearly 16,000 individuals each year, including many area employees who receive training through the Business and Industry Services Department that works with over 500 local businesses each year.

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