Four entries win Path to Success

By on Monday, August 29th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Path to Success business plan competition sponsored by the Pendleton Development Commission is over and the winners have been selected. There’s just one problem. The PDC has provided funding for three $20,000 grants. The committee studying the proposals says they need one more grant.

“We had four winners,” PDC Associate Director Charles Denight said. “All have great business concepts. They would all locate these businesses downtown.”

Denight said that there were 32 applicants with great concepts.

“We’re waiting to announce the winners because we want approval for one more,” Denight said.

He said three of the four potential winners have already identified the properties downtown they want to occupy. He added that all of those businesses are on the list of types of stores being sought, primarily small retail businesses that offer things like clothing, specialty boutiques, and other unique businesses.

“Those people are going to have these kinds of stores,” he said. “They’re going to have shops that people will have trouble finding elsewhere.”

Editor’s note: The Pendleton Development Commission will convene briefly before a city council work session on Tuesday to consider adding funding for a fourth winning business plan.