LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Continuing its mission to develop and support small businesses, the nonprofit, 1Team 1Dream, is sponsoring the annual Hands Up Lake County Small Business Competition.

There is still time to apply by the deadline.

Local small businesses and entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply, including prior year applicants.

Only past winners (finalists) of the small business competition are excluded from the 2022 competition.

In its third year, the competition will award $85,000 including a new category for the best start up business.

The process involves an initial application screening to select 12 businesses and two alternates that will proceed to the second phase of the competition.

In the second phase applicants will learn and apply the basic tenets of building a sustainable business plan in a one-day business training workshop.

The workshop is followed by a mini competition where six small businesses and one alternate will be selected by a panel of local business leaders to proceed to the final competition.

In the final stage of the competition, awards will be decided by a select panel of judges composed of leaders in the business industry.

All competitors will receive an award, ranging from $25,000 for first prize to $5,000 for fifth prize. One additional award of $10,000 will be issued to a new small business startup.

The final competition is on Nov. 5.

For more information about the process and to apply online, go to the website at www.1team1dream.

Apply now – late applications will not be accepted.

Contact Olga Martin Steele at 916-849-8170 if you have any questions.