2019 Gauntlet Entrepreneurs, Prizes Listed   Vinton, VA (May 16, 2019) - It was a very successful evening for the Alleghany Highlands area's various entrepreneurs at the 2019 Gauntlet awards ceremonies. "Formable Grabber" and owner Nick Morgan won top prize of $21,095. Here are the other Highlands area participants. IVO, Ltd, Richard Mansell, wireless electronics, $18,845 Easy Workings, Tom Fu, software (Artificial intelligence), $17,345 Honeycomb Grove, Steve Redden, Meadery & Garden, $14,045 Quest Knight Enterprises, Tim Tingler, Unmanned Systems, $7,845 Vernz Trucking, Laverne Dillard, Long haul trucking, $7345. Keely Photography, Keely Massie, Marketing, $6,595 Born Again Custom Woodworks, LLC, Wayne Lamb, Natural wood items, $6,399 Celebration Depot, Michele Nicely, Gaming/Retail, $3,895 Coffee Museum, Judith Sivonda, Museum Coffee Shop, $3,800 Sonny Side Cafe, Devin Nicely, Cafe at DSLCC, $2,900 Art Squared, Cheyenne Sweeney, Arts/consignments, $2,420 Olde Town Diner, Todd Dillon/Mark Greer, Restaurant, $1,650 Michel's Pizza/Bath County, Eddie Neutelings, Pizza Restaurant, $1,100 Total = $115,279 * * * * * * * * * * The Gauntlet Awards ceremony (took place Thursday, May 16, 2019 at the Vinton War Memorial). This was the 5th Annual Gauntlet Business Program & Competition (started with 122 entrepreneurs/84 businesses that participated in the 10 weeks of training and then 50 of those businesses went on to participate in the business competition portion) The following is a list of the Gold Division winners (top 12 winners) with their localities and total value of their cash and in-kind prize packages. All 50 businesses won prize packages based on their needs for their startups or expansions to further advance their business goals and strategies!! An Advancement Foundation spokesperson noted, "Congratulations to all 50 participating businesses, and graduates, of the Gauntlet Business Program & Competition!! Thank you to all the 2019 Sponsors, Localities, Partners, Mentors, and Community Leaders that make this program a success!! Special thanks to our lead sponsors WFXR and State Farm for your support and community advocacy!! Lastly, immense gratitude to each participating locality including Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Botetourt County, Alleghany Highlands, and the Town of Vinton!!" 12th Place- Valley Cryotherapy Roanoke County TOTAL: $4,575.00 11th Place (tie)- The Foundry Roanoke City TOTAL: $9,380.00 11th Place (tie)- The Harvest Collective Roanoke City TOTAL: $9,245.00 10th Place- Born Again Custom Woodworks Alleghany Highlands TOTAL: $6,399.00 9th Place- Keely Massie Photography Alleghany Highlands TOTAL: $6,595.00 8th Place (tie)- Advanced Racking Botetourt County TOTAL: $9,745.00 8th Place (tie)- Downshift Outfitters Roanoke City (expanding into Roanoke County) TOTAL: $7,245.00 7th Place- Accelerated Academics Roanoke County TOTAL: $10,145.00 6th Place- Honeycomb Grove Alleghany Highlands TOTAL: $14,045.00 5th Place- Quest Knight Enterprises Alleghany Highlands TOTAL: $7,845.00 4th Place- Why Knot Boat With Us Roanoke County TOTAL: $11,929.00 3rd Place- Easy Workings Alleghany Highlands TOTAL: $17,345.00 2nd Place (tie)- IVO Limited Alleghany Highlands TOTAL: $18,845.00 2nd Place (tie)- Roanoke Neuromuscular Roanoke County TOTAL: $18,185.00 1st Place- Formable Grabber Alleghany Highlands TOTAL: $21,095.00

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