Dreamer: Keith Kovarik

Business: K&K; Gardens

Location: Hawkeye, IA

K&K; Gardens, owned by Keith & Kelli Kovarik of Hawkeye, Iowa offers an immense selection of new and unusual perennials, trees and shrubs, annuals, water garden plants and accessories, garden gifts, tools, and landscape design services. In addition, K&K; Gardens provides knowledgeable and friendly...

Dreamer: Elisabeth Maurland

Business: Elisabeth Maurland Studio

Location: Decorah, IA

I see my proposal as a continuation of my pottery business, which consists of me wheel-throwing clay work and decorating it by hand. Over the years I have developed a vast array of designs that the public responds well to, and that I believe will work well on textiles and paper products for the home....

Dreamer: Adam Polashek

Business: Polashek's Locker Service Inc.

Location: Protivin, IA

Hello- Our business is Polashek’s Locker, and we are a meat locker located in Protivin, Iowa. Polashek’s Locker has been in business since 1983 and offers quality services such as; beef processing, pork processing, venison processing, and retail sales. It has been our goal for 28 years and will continue...

Dreamer: Aryn & Benji Nichols

Business: Inspire(d) Media

Location: Decorah, IA

Husband and wife team Aryn and Benji Nichols (that’s us!) have been publishing Inspire(d) Magazine, an “experiment in positive news”, from Northeast Iowa since 2007. Printing roughly 15,000 magazines a quarter, we educate, motivate, and inspire our readers through positive stories about people just like...

Dreamer: Shane Pinter

Business: Pinter's Gardens and Pumpkins

Location: Decorah, IA

In April 2011, Shane & Elisa Pinter opened Pinter’s Gardens and Pumpkins at 2475 State Highway 9, west of Decorah Iowa. The new venture is a combination of Pinter Landscaping and Tree Service LLC, a full service design and installation company and Country Cakes & More, a specialty and wedding cake...

Dreamer: Dennis and Twyla McElree

Business: Echo Valley Metalworks

Location: West Union, IA

Our goal is to serve the needs of Schools and other organizations in the state of Iowa, by providing an alternative product for their fundraising activities. Instead of offering the same things year after year, they can tap into a whole new product line. We are creating various items out of steel...

Dreamer: Darin Ferrie

Business: 3B Construction L.L.C.

Location: Cresco, IA

3B Construction does new construction and remodeling. Keeping our customers happy is what our business is all about. I am applying because I would like to continue to give our customers fast and reliable service and work done right the first time. I would use the the money to enhance and improve...

Dreamer: Peter Awad

Business: Stratus Web Group

Location: Decorah, IA

Stratus Web Group puts on workshops that do one of two things. 1) Help individuals start an Internet business of their own or 2) Help existing businesses use the Internet to grow and thrive In the last couple of years, hundreds of people have taken our workshops and many people have had...

Dreamer: Merill Guarneri

Business: Critters & Such Pet Care, PLC

Location: Decorah, IA

Our business is a small animal veterinary clinic. We feel that we are fairly progressive, especially for the Northeast corner of the state. We practice both medicine and surgery. We provide both laser surgery and laser therapy to our pets. We would like to be able to expand our services to include...

Dreamer: The County Thrift Store Howard County Charitable Projects Inc.

Business: The County Thrift Store

Location: Cresco, IA

The County Thrift Store’s vision, mission and goals are: • To encourage and assist generous area residents in recycling their discarded clothing and small household goods. • To recycle such clothing and small household goods at low prices to area consumers. • To provide area residents with opportunities...

Dreamer: Barb Smed

Business: Smed & Associates Realty

Location: Waukon, IA

My Big Dream is to open up a center where entrepreneurs will find affordable logistical, technical, mindset and marketing tools to support them in building or expanding a business. I firmly believe that entrepreneurial growth is key to the success of our hometown, county, state, country -- and world!...

Dreamer: John Blake

Business: Blake Electric, Inc.

Location: Waukon, IA

Blake Electric is an electrical contractor and renewable energy provider. We design and install solar electric systems for our clients that allow them to reduce or eliminate their utility bills. Our goal is to increase awareness of solar energy and its ability to lower our dependence on dirty energy,...

Dreamer: Alicia Payne

Business: Our Produce Patch

Location: Elkader, IA

Our Produce Patch grows and sells local, chemical free produce in Clayton County. We sell at farmers markets, through a CSA, and to businesses. We are applying for this because we would love to expand our business so that local food is more available. Not only do we not use chemicals, but our produce...

Dreamer: Cody Stuart

Business: Mudslingers Construction

Location: Cresco, IA

Mudslingers Construction, LLC. is a small concrete company from Cresco. We specialize in decorative concrete. This includes stenciled concrete, stamped concrete, and concrete counter tops. In addition to decorative concrete we also do driveways, sidewalks, flat work, and insulated concrete form (i.c.f.)...

Dreamer: Mike & Rachel Gooder

Business: Plantpeddler

Location: Cresco, IA

Plantpeddler is a wholesale greenhouse operation that grows and sells blooming and bedding plants at finished and pre-finished stages. We have a retail floral store providing cut flowers, potted plants and gift items, in addition to funeral and wedding planning. Stone Creek Farms is the brand for our...

Dreamer: Leigh Myers

Business: Essential Massage

Location: Cresco, IA

My business offers massages of many different modalities including but not limited to: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Pregnancy, Sinus, and Trigger Point. I am applying for this contest because I would expand my massage techniques by including muscle relief, spa and geriatric treatments and specialized...

Dreamer: Ronald Kuehl

Business: Treats on Bridge Street Bistro

Location: Elkader, IA

As presently arranged, seating in Treats on Bridge Street is limited to about 30 patrons. Treats is a long, narrow building with our kitchen and storage area in the back part of the building. The ordering counter, drink and lunch prep area are all at the very front of the building. Seating for the...

Dreamer: Roxann Svoboda

Business: Bethany Housewares, Inc

Location: Cresco, IA

Bethany Housewares, Inc is a manufacturer of Scandinavian housewares that relocated to Cresco in 1987 from Minneapolis, MN. We have been manufacturing quality houseware products for over 60 years & are proud to say we make the majority of these items right here in Cresco using local raw materials...

Dreamer: maria larson

Business: hoines healthmart

Location: cresco, IA

We have a pharmacy, gift, and hallmark area.We would like to get some new displays and shelving for the pharmacy and gift area.

Dreamer: shelly kraus

Business: Wash'N'Go Carwash

Location: dyersville, IA

Wash'N'Go Carwash allows customers to hand wash or go through the automatic wash to clean their vehicle. Patrons can also purchase towels, tire cleaners, and air fresheners for our vending machines. Many people also vaccum their vehicles out while at the carwash. We are applying because we are a new...