Four Selma business hopefuls win $1,000 each in River Pitch competition

Four Selma women won $1,000 each to go toward starting or growing their businesses by giving the best “pitch” at a competition held by the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse School of Business on Thursday.

The first River Pitch competition, part of UA’s Selma Resilience Initiative, was held at George Evans Conference Center in Selma and featured more than a dozen business hopefuls outlining plans to build or grow a business in Selma in front of judges who were mostly from Tuscaloosa.

Ideas abounded from an arcade shop at Selma Mall to get teens off the streets to a fragrance humidifier for homes and offices.

The business hopefuls came from a variety of backgrounds, with some still in high school to those already in business wanting to ramp up to the next level.

Winners for $1,000 each were Tyra Anea Ross, a fashion designer who pitched hosting sewing workshops. Radiance Ransom, a senior at Dallas County High, won for her proposal to start Queen City Spa and Wellness Center. Stephanie Jackson got funds to start The Pink Snail, a shop that caters to those with special needs. And Uleter Nix took home the win to ramp up her BC Home Care business. 

Selma residents came to test out their business plans, including former City Councilwoman Susan Youngblood who has an idea for a construction training program to get more locals into the construction business. Summer Sturdivant pitched to grow her vegan cinnamon roll business called Summer the Baker and even brought sweet treats for the judges to taste test her product.

The Best Buy Teen Tech Center brought several teens to pitch their ideas. Foot Soldiers Park also brough their Youth Advisory members to showcase plans. Edmundite Missions also prepared their business class students to participate.

“You all are the future of Selma-Dallas County, and we need to foster the brains and ideas of each one of you,” said Preston McGee, organizer for the event and community outreach coordinator for Selma Resilience Initiative.

The River Pitch will return next spring, he said, and encouraged the business hopefuls to return and continue to pursue their plans to open and grow their businesses.

The Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute has conducted pitch competitions like Selma’s in Tuscaloosa since 2017, and Executive Director Theresa Welbourne said it’s gotten bigger every year, which should happen for Selma too.

There are opportunities throughout the year for help from incubator and resource center The Edge in Tuscaloosa that is a partnership with UA, West Alabama Chamber of Commerce and the city of Tuscaloosa.