Shoals Spark Competition Fosters Ideas For A Better Community

Jan. 25, 2018

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Guy McClure, UNA College of Business Shoals Spark, an idea competition for middle school, high school, and college students living in the Shoals, was created to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in our community's young people to generate unique ideas about how to make the Shoals a very cool place to live and work. Event organizers have placed no restrictions on the types of ideas. For example, ideas can be related to business, technology, education, the arts, recreation, families, entertainment, community development, social services, the environment, preservation, sustainability, health care, volunteerism, government, workforce development, philanthropy, special populations (e.g., elderly, homeless), etc. Students can present any idea they think would make the Shoals a better place to live and work. Interested students need to apply by a video submission prior to the Feb. 5 deadline. Information and applications are available online atwww.shoalsspark.com. The students chosen to present their ideas will do so at the Shoals Spark finale on March 8 at 5:00 p.m., at the Guillot Student Center on UNA's Campus. The event is free and open to the public. Shoals Spark is one of the initiatives under the umbrella of Shoals Shift, a creative effort to attract, nurture, and promote the Shoals. Shoals Shift is an initiative funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and this event involves a variety of local partners including the University of North Alabama, Listerhill Credit Union, Shoals Chamber of Commerce, Shoals Entrepreneurial Center, and Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. -30-