The Troy University IDEA Bank’s Idea Empowerment Competition is offering $10,000 to the project that creates a clear, positive impact in Pike County. 

Open to adults 18+ who live, work or attend school in Pike County, projects must address a local need, demonstrate measurable community impact and provide a six-month progress report. IDEA Bank Director Lynne Firmin George said this is the IDEA Bank’s biggest competition yet.

“The Idea Empowerment Series is the biggest competition the IDEA Bank has had the opportunity to host, which is a testament to our consistent growth,” she said. “Our goal is to bring a big idea to its full fruition by empowering someone in our community with not only the funds, but also the confidence to make it happen. I am excited to see a wide range of ideas and hope this program will serve as a springboard for all of them as we work to grow Pike County and Troy.”

The deadline to submit an application to the competition is March 31. Accepted applicants will be notified by April 7, and a video pitch is due on May 4. Finalists will be notified by May 16 followed by an in-person, private Q&A session from June 9-12. The award ceremony announcing the winner is set for June 13.

“It’s already been impactful,” said Mauree Alice Porter McCall, IDEA Bank program coordinator. “We’ve had a lot of traction on social media and quite a few people calling about it since we announced it just a few days ago. It’s evident that people love this community and want to help make it a better place, and we’re grateful to be able to provide this opportunity.” 

The Idea Empowerment Series is one segment of the TROY Starters Accelerator Programs, a series of programs powered by the Regions Foundation. Designed to provide entrepreneurial resources in the form of education, mentorship and seed funding to three vastly different demographic segments of the local community, the TROY Starters program supports the IDEA Bank’s high school entrepreneurship summer campand the TROY Student Business Pitch Competition.

The Empowerment Series focuses its largest pot of seed funding on a broader local population, expanding to include community members in addition to Troy University students, faculty and staff. The Idea Empowerment Series offers participants the opportunity to attend a series of workshops on identifying community needs, structuring and budgeting and marketing and presentation skills. The workshops are open to the public.

“The Regions Foundation is working every day to support programs like the IDEA Bank that have a positive impact on individual people and local economies,” said Regions Foundation Executive Director Marta Self. “This competition is a wonderful way to help people bring innovative ideas to life while strengthening the Pike County community. We look forward to seeing the positive change it inspires.”

All applicants will be required to agree to the following Terms & Conditions in order to be eligible: Idea Empowerment Competition Terms & Conditions.

Still have questions? Discover more information here. Click here to register or contact the Troy University IDEA Bank at 334-808-6777 or ideabank@troy.edu.