Jackson Street Brewing Wins Business Grant Contest

More than 50 people gathered on the evening of April 29th to attend the Iowa West Coast Dream Big Grow Here regional pitch off event to determine the recipient of a $5,000 business grant and to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Siouxland region.  Organizers are pleased to announce Jackson Street Brewing in Sioux City as the grant recipient to expand their startup brewery operation.

Jackson Street Brewing is an upcoming microbrewery and taproom located just off of historic Jackson Street in downtown Sioux City, Iowa. Construction on the brewery is currently underway and the taproom will offer a selection of six beers brewed right on the premises.​ Jackson Street Brewing is owned by Dave Winslow and his wife Tia. "We are thrilled to win a grant that will be used to buy a stainless steel brite tank that will allow us to carbonate beer more efficiently,” said Dave. “The judges’ confidence is pushing us forward with our construction goals as well."

The other Dream Big Grow Here finalists who pitched that evening included:

• Michelle Sanderson with American Hero Clothing from Larchwood, Iowa
• Erik Martin with Marto Brewing Company from Onawa, Iowa
• Jessica Kannegieter with Mud on Main from Aurelia, Iowa
• Bill Brown with TreePans.from Akron, Iowa

Dream Big Grow Here is an annual program for entrepreneurs and small business owners to earn cash to start or grow their business. To participate, owners upload their entrepreneurial expansion or startup ‘dreams’ during an online portion of the program administered by local economic development organizations.  Dream entrants then encourage friends, family, customers and other business owners to vote for them online to prequalify to advance to the regional pitch off event.  Wildly popular, 21 companies competed from eight western counties of Iowa in the Iowa West Coast Dream Big Grow Here program.  The program website attracted almost a quarter million pageviews, 15,000 online votes, and 500 comments of support.

The guest emcee for the evening was Rob Williams, Dream Big Grow Here program lead with the University of Northern Iowa Center for Business Growth and Innovation. “The Iowa West Coast Dream Big Grow Here business grant program was a tremendous success due to the hard work of our regional economic development hosts, along with all of the quality business entrants who applied to receive funding.“

“We are cultivating a spirit of celebrating area entrepreneurs,” added Renae Billings from the City of Sioux City Economic Development office. “Increasing awareness and support of entrepreneurship in our western part of the state is critical to our long term economic health. The innovative Dream Big Grow Here program combines online technologies and culminates in an in-person event to showcase and reward entrepreneurship in our area.”

A long list of regional and state sponsors collaborate to make Dream Big Grow Here possible.  In addition to Northwest Iowa Developers, Iowa’s West Coast Initiative, and Siouxland Economic Development Corporation, state supporters include the Renew Rural Iowa, Advance Iowa, VentureNet Iowa, the Iowa Bankers Association, Veridian Credit Union, and IASourceLink. 

Dream Big Grow Here was created by the Center for Business Growth and Innovation at the University of Iowa and is a program of UNI Business and Community Services.