The Downtown Fresno Partnership has relaunched the Create Here business plan competition, with $25,000 in prizes for businesses to launch in Downtown Fresno.

The program, last held in 2015, was announced during Thursday night’s State of Downtown event, hosted by the Downtown Fresno Partnership.

There will be five winners selected through the program, with a grand prize of $10,000, two $5,000 winners and two $2,500 prizes. Winners will also receive a package of donated services from local businesses, including flooring, signage and more.

Finalists will also receive mentorship from members of Fresno County SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) to develop their business plan.

Applications will be accepted through July 15, with program finalists announced Aug. 15 and winners unveiled Sept. 18. For more information, visit https://www.downtownfresno.org/do-business/create-here-business-competition

The winner of the previous competition was HoP PK, which opened in late 2017 at 820 Van Ness Ave. Other Create Here applicants that went on to open business in Downtown Fresno included Raw Fresno and ROOT General.

A panel of Downtown Fresno business owners, property owners and representatives of community development financial institutions will sit on a panel to select the winners.

The program is funded by the Downtown Fresno Foundation, which received a grant from the Central Valley Community Foundation and JP Morgan Chase called the PRO Neighborhoods Grant.