2024 Open 4 Business Finalists
July 26, 2024
Longtime construction contractor Kevin Nelson purchased Holtz Service & Small Engine in 2020 from Avoca resident Keith Holtz, who began operating out of his garage nearly 45 years ago. Today, the business aims to “stay small and sell big.” Holtz sells and services recreational vehicles and lawnmowers and is the only local station that services both domestic and foreign vehicles, as well as offers emergency tire repair while customers wait.
An Open 4 Business grant would allow for an upgraded tire changer and balancer machine to accommodate larger tires, particularly those on agricultural equipment. This is expected to double tire service income in the first year, and lead to hiring a full-time tire and oil change technician. Also, in preparation for retail and inventory expansion, remaining dollars would improve security for Holtz’s outdoor showroom along Iowa Highway 83, eliminating the daily chore of moving equipment in and out of safe storage.
Travis and Ashlyn Long opened their modern version of a spice and tea shop in 2021, and feature more than 350 individual spices, herbs, and botanicals from around the globe. Small-batch, hand-blended spice and tea mixes are crafted in-house, and they offer a food menu and hand-shaken teas and kombucha on tap. Also available are oils, vinegars, meal and cocktail kits, local meats and cheeses, handmade soaps, and natural skincare items.
To promote sustainability and customer convenience, the Longs introduced refill programs for kombucha jugs and spice and tea jars. Prepurchased jars can be refilled by returning the empty container, or by buying refill bags of product. Initially, 64.3% of spice blends sold were in jars, and 35.7% in refill bags. Now, 41.4% are in jars, with 58.6% in bags. An Open 4 Business grant would expand those initiatives to olive oils and vinegars, and support essential packaging, signage, displays and sanitizing machines.
After graduating from college, Dr. Anna Leonard returned to her hometown and opened Corning Family Chiropractic more than 25 years ago. The clinic specializes in family chiropractic care, focusing on pediatric and adult neurological disorders. Services include chiropractic adjustments; acupuncture; red light therapy, a treatment that uses red low-level wavelengths of light to help heal skin issues, muscle tissue, and other parts of the body; massage therapy; and nutritional supplements.
With a growing client base, the clinic has outgrown its setup. If named an Open 4 Business winner, money would be allocated to renovate an underutilized storage area to create new patient care space. Leonard is also looking to purchase additional rehabilitation equipment to diversify services and improve patient outcomes and wellness — exercise with oxygen therapy and cold laser therapy are services not currently offered by area providers. In addition, more shelving in the waiting room would accommodate wellness products to support holistic health.
Open nearly five years, this family friendly restaurant features a 90% scratch kitchen serving up traditional American fare with a modern twist. In 2020, John and Taylor Lillibridge relocated from Florida to Cedar Rapids, where John grew up. John began working as Goldfinch’s general manager, while Taylor was its special events coordinator. Three years later, the husband-wife duo purchased the business.
An Open 4 Business grant would support continued growth and adding members to the “Finch family.” New catering equipment would allow the team to book larger-scale weddings, fundraisers, and corporate gatherings, and widen the travel radius for offsite jobs. Dollars would also help purchase dining furniture and serving materials (i.e., flatware, plates, glasses) to accommodate more guests during in-house community events — which take place monthly and involve donating to local schools and nonprofits or partnering with the neighboring Giving Tree Theater to host Murder Mystery Dinner & Show events.
Nevada: BlueMoon Holistic Wellness
When faced with health challenges, Meagan Ausborn found healing through natural, holistic approaches. Now, at her BlueMoon studio in downtown Nevada, she works to empower others to explore such alternatives to improve overall quality of life. Services are aimed at nurturing physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and offerings include yoga classes, massage therapy, and nontoxic retail products.
If awarded an Open 4 Business grant, Ausborn would update equipment for massage therapy and other treatment rooms — not only to enhance the comfort and experience of clients, but also to provide support for practitioners. An electric hydraulic table would allow employees to safely treat pregnant and elderly patients, and those with mobility issues. A portion of the grant also would cover equipment to regulate temperatures and humidity levels specific to hot yoga sessions. In addition, remaining funds could help purchase sound bowls, gongs, and other healing instruments for sound bath meditation, as well as expand retail inventory.
Main Street Iowa has named five finalists for its annual Open 4 Business Pitch Contest on Monday, Aug. 5, in conjunction with the 2024 Iowa Downtown Conference. The pitch contest will take place at The Olympic Theater in Cedar Rapids. Each of the five finalists will pitch their business idea live to a panel of judges, and the winner will receive a $20,000 grant.
The Open 4 Business program encourages business development in designated Main Street Iowa districts around the state. Each applicant completed an online application and submitted a video pitch about how they would invest the Open 4 Business grant funds to help expand and grow their business.
The five finalists are:
Avoca: Holtz Service & Small Engine
Longtime construction contractor Kevin Nelson purchased Holtz Service & Small Engine in 2020 from Avoca resident Keith Holtz, who began operating out of his garage nearly 45 years ago. Today, the business aims to “stay small and sell big.” Holtz sells and services recreational vehicles and lawnmowers and is the only local station that services both domestic and foreign vehicles, as well as offers emergency tire repair while customers wait. An Open 4 Business grant would allow for an upgraded tire changer and balancer machine to accommodate larger tires, particularly those on agricultural equipment. This is expected to double tire service income in the first year, and lead to hiring a full-time tire and oil change technician. Also, in preparation for retail and inventory expansion, remaining dollars would improve security for Holtz’s outdoor showroom along Iowa Highway 83, eliminating the daily chore of moving equipment in and out of safe storage.
Burlington: Thyme & Spice Co.
Travis and Ashlyn Long opened their modern version of a spice and tea shop in 2021, and feature more than 350 individual spices, herbs, and botanicals from around the globe. Small-batch, hand-blended spice and tea mixes are crafted in-house, and they offer a food menu and hand-shaken teas and kombucha on tap. Also available are oils, vinegars, meal and cocktail kits, local meats and cheeses, handmade soaps, and natural skincare items.To promote sustainability and customer convenience, the Longs introduced refill programs for kombucha jugs and spice and tea jars. Prepurchased jars can be refilled by returning the empty container, or by buying refill bags of product. Initially, 64.3% of spice blends sold were in jars, and 35.7% in refill bags. Now, 41.4% are in jars, with 58.6% in bags. An Open 4 Business grant would expand those initiatives to olive oils and vinegars, and support essential packaging, signage, displays and sanitizing machines.
Corning: Corning Family Chiropractic
After graduating from college, Dr. Anna Leonard returned to her hometown and opened Corning Family Chiropractic more than 25 years ago. The clinic specializes in family chiropractic care, focusing on pediatric and adult neurological disorders. Services include chiropractic adjustments; acupuncture; red light therapy, a treatment that uses red low-level wavelengths of light to help heal skin issues, muscle tissue, and other parts of the body; massage therapy; and nutritional supplements.With a growing client base, the clinic has outgrown its setup. If named an Open 4 Business winner, money would be allocated to renovate an underutilized storage area to create new patient care space. Leonard is also looking to purchase additional rehabilitation equipment to diversify services and improve patient outcomes and wellness — exercise with oxygen therapy and cold laser therapy are services not currently offered by area providers. In addition, more shelving in the waiting room would accommodate wellness products to support holistic health.
Marion: Goldfinch Tap + Eatery
Open nearly five years, this family friendly restaurant features a 90% scratch kitchen serving up traditional American fare with a modern twist. In 2020, John and Taylor Lillibridge relocated from Florida to Cedar Rapids, where John grew up. John began working as Goldfinch’s general manager, while Taylor was its special events coordinator. Three years later, the husband-wife duo purchased the business.An Open 4 Business grant would support continued growth and adding members to the “Finch family.” New catering equipment would allow the team to book larger-scale weddings, fundraisers, and corporate gatherings, and widen the travel radius for offsite jobs. Dollars would also help purchase dining furniture and serving materials (i.e., flatware, plates, glasses) to accommodate more guests during in-house community events — which take place monthly and involve donating to local schools and nonprofits or partnering with the neighboring Giving Tree Theater to host Murder Mystery Dinner & Show events.
Nevada: BlueMoon Holistic Wellness
When faced with health challenges, Meagan Ausborn found healing through natural, holistic approaches. Now, at her BlueMoon studio in downtown Nevada, she works to empower others to explore such alternatives to improve overall quality of life. Services are aimed at nurturing physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and offerings include yoga classes, massage therapy, and nontoxic retail products.If awarded an Open 4 Business grant, Ausborn would update equipment for massage therapy and other treatment rooms — not only to enhance the comfort and experience of clients, but also to provide support for practitioners. An electric hydraulic table would allow employees to safely treat pregnant and elderly patients, and those with mobility issues. A portion of the grant also would cover equipment to regulate temperatures and humidity levels specific to hot yoga sessions. In addition, remaining funds could help purchase sound bowls, gongs, and other healing instruments for sound bath meditation, as well as expand retail inventory.