Shoals Idea Audition Will Reward Local Entrepreneurs

Oct. 05, 2020

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

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256-606-2033 or 256-765-4392 and Guy McClure, College of Business, at gymcclure@una.edu or 256-765-4107. FLORENCE, AL - The finals for the Shoals Idea Audition, a Shoals Shift event supported by Innovation Sponsor Bank Independent, the Shoals Economic Development Authority, the University of North Alabama, and the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10. The Gold Sponsor for the event is Party Pros, and the Bronze Sponsors include Regions Bank, Shoals Business Incubator, and Spry Law Firm. Participants' initial pitch will take place on Monday, November 9 via Zoom. The final pitches will take place via Facebook live on Tuesday, November 10 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The finalists will gather at a location that is to be determined in order to pitch live before our panel of judges. The pitches will be broadcast via Facebook Live. All information about the event can be found at www.shoalsideaaudition.com. The Shoals Idea Audition is designed to foster new businesses, help entrepreneurs polish their presentations, and introduce community leaders who might be instrumental in helping make their ideas a reality. For the seventh year, hopeful participants will have an opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of area professionals, and the top-scoring idea will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize, with $2,500 and $1,000 to second- and third-place winners, respectively. "This year's event will look a little different, but we welcome anyone with a great idea for a new or existing product or service to be a part of the competition," said Mary Marshall VanSant, a founder of the event. "This is a great way to earn seed money to make it happen or simply test the viability of your idea." Last year, Lillian Glanton won the event with her idea to develop Muscle Shoals Song Rooms, a music venue in Sheffield near the Muscle Shoals Sound building where songwriters can have a creative space to advance their skills. "Each year, the ideas get better and better," said VanSant. "After preliminary Zoom pitches on November 9, participants will have three minutes to make their pitch the following day. The panel of judges will be made up of local entrepreneurs who will select the winners." The submission deadline for ideas is Oct. 30. To register your idea or for full information, please visit the Shoals Idea Audition website: www.shoalsideaaudition.com About The University of North Alabama The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I's ASUN Big South Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/