Special to Atmore News
Main Street Atmore announces Ariyana Young as the 2024 Business Pitch Competition winner.
The future owner of Nails by Ari, a company specializing in acrylic nails, press-on nails, and nail care, Ariyana is a senior at Escambia County High School and is an Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.
The 17-year-old was awarded $3,500 as part of Main Street Atmore’s Entrepreneur Program to incorporate Nails by Ari, purchase supplies, and pay tuition for a nail tech program.
Inspired by the successful model of Main Street Monroeville’s Business Understand and Opportunities for Youth (B.O.U.Y.), which is tailored for entrepreneurs from high school sophomores to individuals 30 years of age, Main Street Atmore launched its Entrepreneur Program in August 2023.
Main Street Director Shinora Redmond and Yolanda Johnson from the Alabama Small Business Development Center (S.B.D.C.) identified the need for a program that would better support Atmore’s unique entrepreneurial landscape.
“The Entrepreneur Program focuses on empowering aspiring entrepreneurs, young and old. We want to provide them with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed and contribute to the growth of our community,” Johnson said. “By nurturing local young talent, we’re fostering individual success and driving economic development in Atmore for years to come. We are looking forward to watching Ariyana’s business grow.”
Ariyana is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Donzell Sr. and Marlo Young.
In addition to celebrating the success of the Business Pitch Competition, Main Street Atmore announced the Start Making Opportunities a Reality for Entrepreneurs or Start M.O.R.E. launch in partnership with Johnson and the Alabama Small Business Development Center.
Start M.O.R.E. is a program designed to help entrepreneurs with strategic business plans, assumptions, marketing, taxes, certification (tailored to participants), mentoring, staff recruitment and training, succession planning, self-investment, and how to pitch a startup business successfully.
According to Johnson, a Start M.O.R.E. seminar held on June 4 had 19 participants and was one of the most attended seminars in Atmore. Gulf Winds Credit Union sponsors the Start Making Opportunities a Reality for Entrepreneurs initiative and is now accepting submissions for the class of 2025.
“Start M.O.R.E. is a program for everyone. It is designed to provide knowledge, skills, and a passion for entrepreneurship and to build a thriving entrepreneurial community where business owners can focus on working ‘on’ their business, not just ‘in’ their business,” Redmond said. “It’s open to anyone 16 or older with a business idea or have been in business for less than three years. The best thing is it’s free of charge.”
The program will begin on Tuesday, September 24 at 4 p.m. and will include monthly meetings through May. Each meeting will cover specific topics and provide opportunities for networking and learning. Thanks to a grant Main Street Alabama received from the Small Business Administration, $10,000 will be available for those participating in the 2025 Pitch Competition.
To apply, email your name, phone number, and small business idea to Shinora Redmond at mainstreetatmore@gmail.com by Tuesday, September 17, 2024