Lisa Hilchie, right, was presented the first place prize of $1,000 by Manny Guzman and Arlynn Godinez. Photo by Mila Besich
The Superior Enterprise Center hosted the Rural Arizona Pitch Competition on Thursday, May 22, led by the organization Moonshot. Moonshot’s mission is to bring products and services to markets and cities in rural Arizona to develop entrepreneurial ecosystems that create jobs.
Ten participants from Superior and the surrounding areas gathered to receive mentorship and access to information that will help bring their business ideas from concept to reality. First place in the competition was Lisa Hilchie of Superior for Awakened Baked Goods, a new venture focusing on healthy ingredients and the impacts of diet on overall health. Lisa will now compete for the $10,000 grand prize through Moonshot and received $1,000 from the local competition.
In second place was Maya Barton with Art 145 LLC with a $500 award as she scales up her art studio, classroom and gallery at the Main Street location in Superior. In third place was Billie Jo Villaverde for Dance Couture, a venture that trains local seamsters and creatives to fabricate folklorico dance dresses, trajes and accessories. All ten participants received scholarships for Moonshot’s Constellation platform that will continue to provide them with resources to scale up their projects. The scholarships were provided with funding from the Arizona Commerce Authority and have a value of over $3,000 in resources and connects them with experts in the field of business development, marketing, legal, accounting and more.
Billie Jo Villaverde, right, was presented the third place prize of $250 by Manny Guzman and Arlynn Godinez. Photo by Mila Besich
“We are so proud and inspired by each of the participants. They are building a brighter future for Superior and our region with their creativity and willingness to put in the hard work to diversify the local economy,” commented Manny Guzman, the Executive Director of Rebuild Superior. Rebuild Superior and the Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition provided funding for the awards and co-hosted the event at the Hive at the Superior Multi-gen Center.
Entrepreneurship, small business mentoring and workforce development are major focuses at the Superior Enterprise Center. Arlynn Godinez is the Director and encouraged participants to utilize the space at the Hive to access information that will help them with keep moving forward. “These services are open to anyone looking to either create or scale up their small businesses not just in Superior but the surrounding areas. All are welcome!”
For more information visit the website at www.SuperiorEnterpriseCenter.com, connect with them on social media or stop by the Hive during operating hours.
The Rural Arizona Pitch Competition continues through the summer and will have a regional stop in Miami on July 17, 2025. Signups are open at moonshotazpitch.com.
Article submitted by Manny Guzman.