Bladen Community College accepting applications for 2027 business pitch competition

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Aspiring entrepreneurs in Bladen County have an opportunity to turn their business ideas into reality through a free business development program offering training, counseling and a chance to win cash prizes.

The Small Business Center at Bladen Community College is now accepting applications for Pitch It Bladen County 2027, an eight-week entrepreneurship program and business pitching competition.

The application deadline is December 11, 2026, and only 10 to 12 participants will be selected.

The program begins January 12, 2027, with classes held Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bladen Community College in Dublin.

Participants will receive instruction on starting a business, developing a business plan, bookkeeping, financial planning, marketing and preparing funding requests.

Each participant will also receive two hours of individual business counseling with the Small Business Center director. By the end of the program, participants will have developed a business plan, financial plan and pitch presentation.

The program will conclude with a business pitching competition, where finalists will present their ideas to a panel of judges representing local businesses and funding partners on April 7.

A total of $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top three pitches:

• First place: $1,500

• Second place: $1,000

• Third place: $500

Winners will be announced during the Small Business Expo at Bladen Community College on April 21, 2027.

The program is open to people interested in starting a new business based in Bladen County, including home-based and online businesses.

Applicants may have already registered their business with the state but must not have opened a business bank account, begun earning income or started incurring business expenses for the proposed business.

Existing business owners may also apply if they are proposing an entirely new business that will operate as a separate company.

Applicants must be over 18, although those 18 and younger may participate with a legal guardian who attends classes and counseling sessions with them.

Selected participants must attend at least six of the eight classes, complete assignments, participate in counseling and submit a final business plan and pitch presentation.

Key dates for the program include:

• December 11, 2026: Application deadline

• December 18, 2026: Selected participants notified

• January 12 to March 16, 2027: Tuesday evening classes

• March 25, 2027: Business plans and presentations due

• April 7, 2027: Business pitch competition

• April 21, 2027: Winners announced at the Small Business Expo

Applications must include a description of the proposed business idea and a resume.

Those interested can apply through the Bladen Community College website or contact the Small Business Center at 910-879-5572.

Completed applications can be emailed to tdennison@bladencc.edu with “PITCH IT APPLICATION” in the subject line or mailed to the Small Business Center at Bladen Community College, P.O. Box 266, Dublin, NC 28332.

Pitch It Bladen County 2027 is sponsored by Vision Ag, Hilton Companies, Bladen Community College and the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.