Ogden contest expands reach

A contest that seeks to boost Ogden's outdoor-recreation image is going national.

Grow Utah Ventures said this week that it would seek submissions for its "Concept to Company" contest from entrepreneurs who live in states outside Utah.

The contest features a $20,000 grand prize for a product or service idea that applies to outdoor recreation. The contest is open to any inventor or small business with less than $5 million in annual revenues.

"We've had such a tremendous response to the 'Concept to Company' contest that we decided we wanted to include any and all entrepreneurs, regardless of where they're based," said Ogden City Mayor Matthew Godfrey in a prepared statement.

Ideas submitted to the contest should focus on skiing, snowboarding, cycling, climbing, hiking, paddling and other nonmotorized, nonfishing or nonhunting sports, organizers said. Also, the idea or invention must not yet be introduced into the market and must have no sales revenue.

A panel of outdoor-industry experts will judge the ideas based on innovation and marketability, according to organizers. There will be two grand prize winners, a local Utah-based winner and an out-of-state winner.

The winners will be announced on Sept. 27 as part of the city's "Mountain to Metro Festival. "Contest rules and the application form are available at www.launchutah.com/concepttocompany.php.