Greenfield Community College's Take The Floor Pitch Event is back and this year's events will be better than ever, with one entrepreneur winning $10,000 to help make their business dreams come true.

The Take the Floor Pitch Event will be coming back to Greenfield on Saturday, Dec. 11, from noon-2 p.m. at Hawks & Reed on Main Street after the COVID-19 Pandemic caused last year's event to be postponed. The event will be the first in a series that culminates in Spring 2022 and will give entrepreneurs a chance to give their best "Shark Tank" style pitch to win a $10,000 grand prize and classes from Greenfield Community College to help build out their dream business in Franklin County.

The event is being hosted by GCC, and is sponsored by Athol Credit Union, Franklin First Federal Credit Union, Hawks & Reed and Mesa Verde. The $10,000 grand prize is being graciously offered by Franklin First Federal Credit Union and Mesa Verde.

The event will also have a $10 suggested entrance fee for audience members, but no one will be turned away. All money received at the door will also go to the winner of each event in the series, as well as a $100 prize from Athol Credit Union.

"These Take the Floor events showcase the best of Franklin County. Diverse people, organizations and businesses coming together to strengthen our regional economy by providing the skills, networks and resources entrepreneurs need to develop and grow their businesses. We are so excited to bring this series back to our region and cannot wait to hear from these local entrepreneurs," Max Fripp, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at GCC said.

Ten entrepreneurs will take part in the December event and will pitch business ideas ranging from tech startup to social entrepreneurship to the creative economy. Fripp will help prepare contestants with free coaching sessions offered through GCC.

Each entrepreneur will be given 5 minutes to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges that includes First Franklin District Representative Natalie Blais, Greenfield Mayor Chief of Staff Danielle Letourneau-Therrien and President/CEO of Athol Credit Union Courtney Fifield. The judges will choose the winner based on the potential for viability, meeting the needs of the regional community and innovation.

The winner will receive $10,000 to fund their business, as well as entrepreneurial workshops and courses that will be offered by GCC's Civic Engagement Department. All contestants will also receive gift cards to local businesses.

Those who are interested in getting involved with the event can contact Fripp at .