PORT ORCHARD — Three small businesses in Port Orchard are among 15 semifinalists seeking the top award in the 2018 edg3 FUND small-business competition sponsored by Kitsap Bank.

The edg3 FUND competition recognizes entrepreneurs dedicated to growing their community economically, socially and environmentally.

The Port Orchard businesses advancing in the competition are Compost Manufacturing Alliance LLC, Dragonfly Cinema and PJ’s Market.

Shannon Childs, the bank’s senior vice president and marketing director, said the bank received numerous applications from entrepreneurs throughout Western Washington in industries ranging from food and agriculture to technology, recreation, health and wellness.

“We are excited to have received applications from a number of very promising companies,” said Tony George, Kitsap Bank’s president/COO.

“All of these innovative and hardworking business people are doing great things to promote a sustainable community, and we were honored that they invested their time and effort to joint our contest.”

The top 15 semifinalists will now move on to the semifinal round, which includes a public vote. Other companies making the cut include Blackmouth Design, Bainbridge Island; Cascade Hygiene, Bremerton; HandiMaps, Renton; Kayak Brinnon, Brinnon; Kitsap Fresh, Poulsbo; Kodama Farm and Food Forest, Chimacum; Sequim Bee Farm, Port Angeles; The Art of Crunch, Tacoma; The Cocoa Forge, Port Townsend; TreeYourself SPC, Seattle; Vita Inclinata, Tacoma; and Wood Originials, LLC, Bremerton.

The next phase of competition begins Sept. 17 when the public will be invited to vote for their favorite company. Those wishing to vote can go to www.kitsapbank.com/business/edge-fund/ from Sept. 17-28 to view background information and videos on the 15 semifinal companies and learn how the $20,000 prize money would be used at each of these businesses.

Results of this vote will help determine the top five finalists that will compete in a live competition Nov. 15 at Harborside Conference Center in Bremerton. There, the finalists will present their pitches before a live audience and an independent panel of judges. The winner will receive a $20,000 cash grant.

Kitsap Bank will once again award an additional $5,000 cash prize, the Community edg3 Award. The prize will be awarded to a business selected from the semifinalist pool that, in the judges’ opinions, best embodies the spirit of community, based on its submitted application and video.

Kitsap Bank has its headquarters in Port Orchard and operates 21 locations throughout Western Washington.