Main Street Wooster & The City of Wooster

Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year — Call for Nominations

Main Street Wooster's mission is to keep Downtown Wooster thriving. In Partnership with the City of Wooster, we are proud to celebrate and reward the entrepreneurial spirit in our community. Competitive nominees help energize downtown and deliver meaningful community impact.

Nominees must demonstrate:

Less than five years in business, and
Positive impact on Downtown Wooster, and
Own and operate their business, with
Sustained presence in Downtown Wooster, such as:
- Lease/own brick and mortar in the C-4 District for at least six months, or
- Has minimum six-month lease/Wooster Works commitment, or
- Products sold in C-4 District for at least six months (e.g. at Local Roots), or
- Farmers Market participant for at least 22 weeks

Award Details:
Three finalists will be announced in early January, with the winner revealed at our January 30th Annual Meeting. The Winning Emerging Entrepreneur of 2025 will receive:

$5,000 cash prize
Customized marketing strategy ($5,000 value)
Consultation with the City of Wooster Development Manager
Press release

Name

Name of Business

Name(s) of the Entrepreneurs(s) who own this business

The Entrepreneur(s) contribute significantly to its operations:

Date of Business Filing with the Ohio Secretary of State

Sustained presence in Downtown Wooster:
- Lease/own brick and mortar in the C-4 District for at least six months, or
- Has minimum six-month lease/Wooster Works commitment, or
- Products sold in C-4 District for at least six months (e.g. at Local Roots), or
- Farmers Market participant for at least 22 weeks

Describe the sustained presence in Downtown Wooster:

Nominees will be compared by how they have a positively impact on the Downtown Wooster community, e.g social, cultural, and/or economic vitality.

Examples may include:

Enhancing downtown’s character or sense of place (arts, culture, creativity, education, or historic appreciation)
Helping create a vibrant downtown experience that attracts and retains residents and visitors
Aligning with long-term downtown goals such as quality of life, safety, inclusivity, and fun activity

Note: Businesses receive additional points for wider community impact.

Describe the business' positive community impact:

Photos, flyers, social media screenshots, and/or testimonials

Additional Resources:

https://www.woosteroh.com/economic-development/start-ups

https://www.mainstreetwooster.org/downtown-wooster-business

Quick Guide for New Wooster Businesses

Less Annoying CRM