Business Notebook: Google weekend planned for Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau's co-working community, Codefi, will host the first-ever Google Startup Weekend in March.

From March 13 to 15, Codefi is inviting budding entrepreneurs to pitch ideas to a panel and form groups that will compete for prizes, according to a news release.

Google Startup Weekend events are held around the world, according to the release, and "bring together entrepreneurs, designers, developers and startup enthusiasts to participate in 54 hours of taking innovative business ideas from concept to launch."

Dr. James Stapleton, a co-founder of Codefi, is an organizer of the event, and said in the release that "momentum towards business creation and community building centered on entrepreneurship" makes now the time to hold the event. Codefi recently launched a local startup competition, 1ST50K, that awards grants and services to participants, and the groups that have ideas deemed "most likely to succeed" during the upcoming startup weekend event will win prizes valued at $3,000 and mentoring services, along with a chance to pitch to the group who awards up to $50,000 in grants and services in the 1ST50K competition.

A Google certified facilitator and successful entrepreneurs will participate as coaches in the startup weekend event. Sponsors include Codefi, the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bank of Missouri. For more information on the event and how to participate, go to codefiworks.com or up.co/communities/usa/cape-girardeau.

Belladona Salon & Spa gets recognition

A local salon and spa was recently named to the SALON TODAY 200 by SALON TODAY magazine.

Salons are selected annually by the publication for best practices. The magazine recognized Belladona Salon & Spa in Cape Girardeau for retail and merchandising, according to a release. The salon, which has two locations in Cape Girardeau, is owned by Linda Springs and Becky Davidson. SALON TODAY is a top business publication for salon and spa owners, according to the release, and the 200 salons honored for best practices were chosen from applications submitted to the publication by readers, who represent the 20,000 top-producing salons and spas in the country.

Mo. Innovation awards first business loan

City Glass of Fredericktown, Missouri, recently became the first recipient in 2015 to receive a small business loan from the Missouri Innovation Corp.

The $45,000 loan made to the company is part of an intermediary relending program led by the not-for-profit corporation, which works to promote innovation and help create jobs in Southeast Missouri.

City Glass specializes in auto glass and repair, insurance work and industrial and heavy equipment glass services, according to a news release from Southeast Missouri State University, where the corporation is led. The loan helped new owners buy City Glass by entering a partnership with New Era Bank to provide gap financing. Loan funds from the program are available to approved applicants in Southeast Missouri counties and have gone to Cape Girardeau's Minglewood Brewery and Sikeston, Missouri's Parengo Coffee since the program began in 2014. More information is available online at semo.edu/irie/mic.

Missouri Century Farms being sought

The Missouri Farm Bureau and the University of Missouri Extension are accepting applications for farms to be recognized as Missouri Century Farms.

The century farm program honors farms in Missouri that meet certain criteria, including the same family owning a farm for more than 100 years. The farm must also have at least 40 acres of the original farm and make a financial contribution to overall farm income, according to a news release. The recognition program is a way to preserve heritage, according to the sponsors. Application information, including criteria, fees and deadlines, can be found online at extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm. Approved applicants receive a certificate, farm sign and booklet for a $65 fee.

Business licenses

• Stack'd Supplements, 3047 William St., Suite 103, Cape Girardeau, sells sports and health supplements and is owned by Matthew and Melissa Short. An anticipated opening dated is listed as March 1.
• Sherry Rust Photography, 339 Broadway, Suite 155, Cape Girardeau, offers photography services and is owned by Sherry Rust.
• Styles by KP, 821 Broadway, is a booth rental for cosmetology services run by Kenitha Pittman. The anticipated opening date was Feb. 2.

Hendrickson Business Advisors, a firm providing management and marketing consulting in Cape Girardeau, recently hired

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