PORT ORCHARD — Five finalists — including a Port Orchard business — have been chosen finalists in the sixth-annual edg3 FUND Small Business Competition, sponsored by Kitsap Bank.
The companies were chosen in part by a public vote, the bank sponsors said, and will move on to compete in the final phase of the competition — edg3 FUND Live, on Nov. 21 at the Kitsap Conference Center at Harborside in Bremerton.
The finalists will present their pitches before a live audience and an independent panel of judges at the gathering. The winning business will be awarded $25,000.
These companies were selected as finalists:
- Unity Skate Shop, Port Orchard
- Camp N Car, Port Townsend
- Fuchsia Shoes Inc., Bothell
- JT’s Original Louisiana Bar-b-que, Gig Harbor
- The Art of Crunch, Tacoma
“We were impressed with the caliber of businesses represented in our semifinalist grouping and their commitment to bettering their communities,” said Tony George, Kitsap Bank president/COO.
“Our finalists who come from this pool represent diverse industries and backgrounds, reaching from the Olympic Peninsula to the east side of Puget Sound, each benefiting from loyal community support.”
Sponsoring Kitsap Bank will give an additional $5,000 cash prize — the Community edg3 Award — to one business selected from the semifinalist pool that, in the judges’ opinion, best embodies the spirit of community, based on their submitted application and video, said Shannon Childs, Kitsap Bank senior vice president/marketing officer.
Childs said the mission of edg3 FUND is to recognize entrepreneurs dedicated to growing their community in three ways: economically, socially and environmentally. She said the bank received applications from business people throughout Western Washington representing industries ranging from food/beverages to arts, technology and agriculture.
