<p> News from The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce</p><p>For additional information, please contact:</p><p>Lacey K. Garner Image Manager 501.321.1700 [email protected]</p><p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p><p>Hot Springs Chamber Hosts G60 Business Pitch Contest </p><p>(Hot Springs, AR) October 27, 2014 – An upcoming contest will give aspiring entrepreneurs 60 seconds to deliver an “elevator pitch” of their business idea to a panel of judges for cash prizes.</p><p>The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce is hosting the region’s first Gone in 60 Seconds business pitch contest in partnership with Winrock International and Startup Junkie Consulting of Fayetteville. The contest will take place from noon- 1pm in center of the 2014 Hot Springs Business Fest on November 6th in Halls C & D of the Hot Springs Convention Center. </p><p>The format for the G60 Contest is much like the popular TV show “Shark Tank” where contestants will have 60 seconds each to pitch their best business idea to a panel of judges and audience.</p><p>One $1000 cash prize will be awarded to the judges’ choice and the audience will vote for another $1000 crowd favorite.</p><p>The judges for the contest are Mitch Bettis, President of Arkansas Business Publishing Group; Warwick Sabin, Executive Director of the Arkansas Innovation Hub; Eric Jackson, General Manager of Oaklawn Racing and Gaming; and Jordan Carlisle, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. </p><p>The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at g60contest.com.</p><p>“I’m so glad we were able to bring this event to Hot Springs,” said Cole McCaskill, the Chamber’s Downtown Development Director and G60 organizer. </p><p>“The audience is really in for a treat. G60’s are so much fun and high energy. It’s hard to tell who’s going to walk away with the top prize because so many good ideas come out during the contest.”</p><p>G60 contests were conceived in August 2011 as an effort to promote startups, improve founder communications skills, and to increase "creative collisions" in emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems. Since 2011, G60 events have been held Arkansas and have been attended by thousands of people. Thousands in prize money has been awarded to contestant winners many of which have gone on to build successful ventures.</p><p>The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce is Hot Springs’ leading advocate and champion for business. The Chamber leads economic growth and development in the Hot Springs Metro area. More than 1000 Hot Springs area businesses and individuals are Chamber members. The Hot Springs Metro Partnership is the economic development organization working toward new jobs and new capital investment for Hot Springs, Garland County, and the region. The Partnership is a public/private partnership funded by Garland County, the City of Hot Springs, and private investors. For further information, contact Lacey Garner at 501.321.1700 or [email protected]. ###</p>