Independent Banker - July 2024 - 73

Next: A fast track for professional development 
" Small businesses are the lifeblood of every
community. They create the products and
services that consumers purchase. They also
create jobs and opportunities for everybody. "
-MARY CHETWYND, ROCKLAND TRUST
In addition to these relationships,
Rockland has gained visibility within
the local business community.
The competition allows Rockland
Trust to make its dedication to
small businesses known. " Small
businesses are the lifeblood of every
community, " Chetwynd adds. " They
create the products and services that
consumers purchase. They also create
jobs and opportunities for everybody.
When you support that, you're just
supporting the whole community,
because it has a ripple effect in
every direction. "
in different stages of development
from all over the two states.
" [Diversity] is a key driver here at our
organization to ensure everybody has
an equal chance to win and all are
included, " says Chetwynd.
Some friendly competition
When Rockland Trust created Small
Business, Big Dreams back in 2017,
small business contestants competed
for a chance to be featured in a
professionally produced video. But
the competition has grown to be so
much more than that.
" We grew the program because
we wanted to learn more about the
businesses that we would feature, "
explains Chetwynd. " What started
off as a very small social media
small-business awareness event has
turned into a meaningful opportunity
for both the participants [and] the
business banking officers. It's just
been a wonderful experience for
everyone involved. "
Now, each March, contestants
submit written entries detailing their
business goals, financial health and
target markets. They also note ways
their businesses are set apart from
fellow competitors.
Following the application process,
the contest committee narrows the
pool to eight final contestants who
make it to the interview round. From
this group, Rockland Trust chooses the
final three contestants. These finalists
are then paired with business banking
officers from Rockland Trust to create
business plans and present their ideas
to a panel of judges in June.
It's up to those judges to decide
who gets the grand prize: a $20,000
reward. Both runners-up receive
$2,500 each. In addition to the
funding, all contestants who make
it to the final eight benefit from the
visibility provided by Boston 25, the
local television station that broadcasts
parts of the competition each year.
A win-win situation
The Small Business, Big Dreams
contest benefits everyone, including
Rockland Trust itself.
" The business banking officers
get to develop long-term, lasting
relationships with the business
owners and actually provide some
education around what should be
important and
what they need
to think about
in order to run
a successful
business, " says
Chetwynd.
The Rockland Trust team is
always excited to hold the annual
Small Business, Big Dreams contest.
" Every year, we're just inspired by
the passion and determination that
we see within these participants. We
look forward to hearing their stories
[and] learning more about them, "
says Chetwynd. " We truly are a bank
where each relationship matters,
and we are highly focused on the
business community, and this is just a
reflection of all of that. " 
Victoria Schutz is an editorial assistant
for Independent Banker.
Right: Erin
Baumgartner and
Tim Fu used their
grant for their
business, Family
Dinner, a local
farmer's market
delivery service.
independentbanker.org // 73
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - July 2024

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