Local entrepreneurs win funding at 4th Mon Valley I2E Awards
The grand prize went to Hannah Conard of Sesame and Lillies in Monongahela.
For the MVI
The Mon Valley Alliance Foundation, in partnership with Washington & Jefferson College’s Ignite Business Incubator, hosted its fourth Ideas 2 Enterprise awards ceremony Thursday at the cfsbank Business Resource Center in Monongahela.
Shown, from left, are Hannah Concord of Sesame and Lillies, Carla Anderton of Shared Workforce and Arts Network, Mary Clark of Blessed 2B a Blessing Salon, Richard Massafra of The Dog Emporium, Samantha Shoemaker of Grain & Grackle Bakery, Shitaye Morrison of Club Kitchen. Not pictured are Debbie Behanna of Behanna Digital Signs, Etor Ndinyah of Rooted In Culture LLC, Heather Tyhonas of Mama T’s Catering, Tim Legarsky of Woodland Grove Executive Venue Co., Kevin Settimio of Settimioscapes LLC and Raysean Grahm.
The event celebrated the completion of the fourth Mon Valley I2E cohort, a free five-week workshop series designed to help aspiring and existing entrepreneurs develop comprehensive business plans.
Throughout the program, participants worked with subject matter experts to refine their marketing strategies, financial models and operational plans, culminating in a final pitch to a panel of judges for the opportunity to receive startup grant funding.
Attendees included I2E participants and their guests, local business leaders, I2E program alumni and members of the I2E Advisory Board. Guests enjoyed an evening of networking, refreshments and recognition as select participants were awarded cash grants to help launch or expand their businesses.
The fourth cohort graduates feature a diverse group of entrepreneurs representing a wide range of industries, including The Dog Emporium, Strategic Workforce and Arts Network, Sesame and Lillies, Blessed 2B A Blessing Salon, LLC, Rooted In Culture LLC, Grain and Grackle Bakery, and Club Kitchen Pittsburgh.
The cash prizes awarded through the I2E program were made possible by funding from EQT Foundation, a longtime supporter of community and economic development initiatives across the region.
Winners of the 4th Mon Valley I2E competition are:
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First place winner is Hannah Conard of Sesame and Lillies.
• Second place – Samantha Shoemaker, Grain and Grackle Bakery
• Third place – Shitaye Morrison, Club Kitchen.
“The continued success of the I2E program in the Mon Valley has been incredible to witness,” said Max Miller, director of the Ignite Business Incubator at W&J College. “What’s especially exciting is seeing alumni from past cohorts stay engaged, support one another and build meaningful connections. That sense of community is what truly strengthens our local entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
“We’re proud to see the momentum of I2E continue to grow with each cohort,” said Jamie Colecchi, CEO of the Mon Valley Alliance. “This program is about more than just launching businesses — it’s about creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate and access the resources they need to succeed. We look forward to expanding future cohorts and continuing to support the incredible talent across the Mon Valley.”
Each I2E participant will continue to receive business counseling from Ignite’s subject matter experts to further refine and implement their plans. The ongoing success of the I2E program in the Mon Valley highlights the strength and potential of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Business Resource Center and Ignite will soon launch another I2E Cohort for the Mon Valley. Visit mvabrc. org to learn more or to join the waitlist.
