Media contact:
Jackie Batson, Executive Director
404-268-4102
jackie@downtowncalera.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2025
Calera, AL – Main Street Alabama announced the winners of its Bright Ideas State Regionals competition, a grant award program powered by AL Spark—an initiative created to energize existing businesses in designated communities across the state with funding provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Five winning businesses, including three regional and two “Wild Card” businesses, will represent their respective districts and make their “Bright Ideas” pitch on expanding and growing their business at the organization’s statewide competition, being held in conjunction with Main Street Alabama’s annual state conference (LAB) taking place August 20-22, 2025 in Jasper, Alabama.
The Bright Ideas State Regional Winner from the North is Good Company Cafe in South Huntsville. The Central regional winner is Creations Galore and Moore in Calera, and the regional winner from the South is Coffee Corner in Enterprise. The two Wild Card winners are Trolley on Main in Jasper, along with Ulti-Mutt Bakery in Oxford.
“Watching Nedra grow through AL*SPARK has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work with Calera Main Street,” executive director Jackie Batson said. “This grant gave her the opportunity to dream bigger, lean into her passions, and take her business to the next level—and our whole district is better for it.”
“Programs like AL*SPARK are transformational for small towns like ours. They don’t just fund ideas—they build confidence, create momentum, and show our entrepreneurs that their visions matter. The ripple effect is real, and we’re seeing it every day in downtown Calera!”
Not only do all five selectees receive a $10,000 grant award and an invitation to the state finals, finalists will also receive technical assistance and coaching and will then have the option to
revise or amend their Bright Ideas application prior to the finals pitch event. Each finalist will have up to five minutes to make their pitch to the judging panel, followed by an interview session conducted by the judges. The panel of judges will select and award an additional Bright Ideas grant of $25,000 to one winning finalist.
“Bright Ideas is expected to inject nearly $400,000 into growing businesses located in our designated communities,” according to Mary Helmer Wirth, president and state coordinator of Main Street Alabama. “It’s exciting to know the potential of these small Alabama businesses and entrepreneurs is being ignited by this important program, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact of these innovative ideas on our local economies.”
