Janesville Business Challenge enters phase two with five entries

The Janesville Business Challenge for 2026 is well underway with five different applicants competing for a prize worth over $20,000 for any business opened before December 31 to encourage new businesses and growth. The deadline for phase one of this contest was Feb. 2.

 

Applicants were required to share a one- to two-page summary of their business concept, along with specific information about their plans, including the ways their products or services would have a positive impact on the Janesville community;  their personal skills and training, especially when it comes to operating a business; and resources already acquired and still being sought.  

 

Katelynne Kratz, Janesville’s community development director said, “This has been tried with success in a few of the smaller towns scattered throughout Minnesota. Over the last few years, it has brought in at least eight different businesses, and not all of those were winners of the contest. Some of them had gotten so far in the preparation of their business plans that when the contest was over, they just decided to go ahead with their plans anyway. Either way it’s a win/win.” 

 

Kratz has been the director in Janesville since January first of this year and she’s optimistic, “All applicants moving on to phase two will be listed on the city economic development authority’s (EDA) website in the coming weeks. The judging will take place at the city hall.” Before joining the Janesville city staff, Kratz had worked in an advisory capacity with the EDA since March of 2025.

 

All applicants selected to move onto Phase 2 are eligible to receive free business plan aid from the South-Central Small Business Development Center, which might come in handy because they’ll need an executive summary and business description which will include a timeline, full market analysis and marketing plan, along with a list of owner qualifications as well as two professional references. Their financial and building plans as well. They must also answer the question: How will the business positively impact the downtown Janesville business district? Contestants must complete all of these in under 30 pages with the phase two deadline of May 4.

 

Phase three will be an oral presentation with the option to include media such as Power Point or video recording. Applicants will be pitching their ideas to the judges by May 25, with those results forwarded to the Janesville city council and the winner to be announced on July 7.  

 

This contest is being sponsored by the Janesville Economic Development Authority, Waseca County and Ginger P. Designs in Janesville.