PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FirstBank, which has multiple banking locations throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, announced a new competition for businesses in Arizona. The competition, called the “FirstBank $20,000 Elevator Pitch Business Contest” will kick off on Monday, October 12 and, only a few weeks later, award one winner with $20,000, courtesy of the bank.
Contest participants will be asked to submit a 90-second, “elevator pitch” style video explaining how the money will help them accelerate their business and reach their goals.
“Small- and medium-sized businesses are the engine that drives Arizona’s economy, and as a community bank, we recognize that our success is dependent on the overall health of the local markets we serve,” said, John Ikard, President and CEO of FirstBank Holding Company. “We are launching the FirstBank $20,000 Elevator Pitch Business Contest to not only highlight our support of local businesses, but also to help showcase some of Arizona’s most innovative and entrepreneurial companies.”
A panel of outside business experts, including Michael Gossie, Editor-in-Chief of AZBigMEDIA which includes the AZ Business Magazine and other publications; Rick Murray, CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association; Patrick O’Grady, Managing Editor of the Phoenix Business Journal; and Todd Sanders, President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, will review the entries and select a pool of semi-finalists. Final voting will occur in real-time via social media, with a winner selected on November 20.
Challenge entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
1. Content (50%)
2. Creativity (30%)
3. Originality (20%)
FirstBank has a long history of supporting local businesses with innovative contests, promotions and marketing campaigns, in addition to offering a wide-range of competitive business-banking products and services. Additionally, FirstBank is a major supporter of nonprofits in areas where its employees live and work. The bank contributed nearly $5 million to charities in Colorado, Arizona and California last year.
In addition to Arizona, FirstBank is launching its Elevator Pitch Business Contest in Colorado. One Colorado business will also win $20,000. The bank opened its first location in Arizona in 2007, and now has 17 branches located in the greater Phoenix area.
For more information on the FirstBank Elevator Pitch Business Contest, including official rules and deadlines, please visit: http://shout.lt/bdjML.
About FirstBank
FirstBank operates more than 120 locations in Colorado, Arizona and California. FirstBank is the largest locally owned banking organization in Colorado, serving more than 650,000 customers. Since 2000, FirstBank has contributed more than $50 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. FirstBank is unique in that a majority of its stock is owned by management and employees. For more information, go to www.efirstbank.com.
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