Nominations are open for the inaugural Umpqua Bank (NASDAQ:UMPQ)Made to Grow Grant campaign, which will recognize small businesses that are helping to inspire thriving communities. This effort kicks off during National Small Business Week, May 4-8, 2015, and brings to life Umpqua’s ongoing commitment to help small businesses grow.
Starting today, small business owners can enter to win Umpqua’s Made to Grow Grant grand prize by visitingfacebook.com/umpquabank and sharing a short video on how $10,000 can grow their business and local community. In addition to the $10,000 prize, the winning business will also be featured in Umpqua’s Local Spotlight program, which features the products of local vendors for sale in select Umpqua stores.
“At Umpqua, we recognize the important impact small businesses have in our communities,” said Ray Davis, president and CEO of Umpqua Bank. “More than half of all Americans either own or work for a small business, which create nearly two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. Umpqua’s Made to Grow Grantcampaign is an opportunity for us to celebrate and give back to small businesses in the communities we serve.”
In addition to the grand prize grant winner, five contest participants will receive their choice of a business-building package developed to address some of the issues small business owners confront most often. They include:
- Umpqua Bank Financial Counseling: Financial advice on all things small business.
- Social Media Specialist: Expert assistance on a company’s social media presence.
- Digital Review: A review of digital and print assets from a creative professional.
- Storefront Facelift: A refresh of a company’s digital or physical storefront.
- Logo Redesign: Hand-crafted redesign of the company’s logo.
Small businesses are an essential part of the country’s economic vitality, accounting for between 60 and 80 percent of jobs in the US, according to several sources. Umpqua Bank’s Made to Grow Grant campaign is one of multiple programs the company has developed to support the growth of small businesses. Others include Local Spotlight, as well as a comprehensive selection of business banking and lending products and services.
Submissions for the Made to Grow Grant are due by May 20. Entries must be within Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Nevada to qualify. Finalists will be announced on May 27 and the winner selected by popular vote. Umpqua will announce the recipients of the grant and business-building tools on June 8.
For more information on the Made to Grow Grant campaign or to submit your video, visitfacebook.com/umpquabank. For inspiration to help your small business grow, visit umpquabank.tumblr.com.
About Umpqua Bank
Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, and has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Northern Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for the past eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
