photo by: Joselyn King (file)

Shelly Reager, owner of Fully Lit & Co., celebrates after winning the last Show of Hands business presentation competition in May. The styling company provides marquee letters, balloon displays and neon signs for events.

Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to apply for Wheeling Heritage’s upcoming Show of Hands event.

The business presentation contest is set for 6 p.m. on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at Wheeling Artisan Center, 1400 Main St., Wheeling.

Applications are open through Wednesday, Aug. 13, and can be submitted online at wheelingheritage.org/show-of-hands.

Show of Hands, sponsored by Orrick, is a crowd-powered pitch competition where four finalists present their ideas to a live audience. Each attendee donates $5 at the door for a vote to help decide which finalist receives the top prize.

The winning project generally takes home around $4,500 in funding, supported by both audience contributions and community sponsors.

Since its inception, the event has awarded more than $154,000 to support local businesses and initiatives that contribute to Wheeling’s economic and community development.

“This is more than just a funding opportunity,” said Scott Schenerlein, executive director of Wheeling Heritage. “Show of Hands helps build connections between entrepreneurs and their community while giving them the platform to grow their ideas.”

In addition to the chance to win funding, Show of Hands offers finalists valuable exposure and support. Each selected presenter will receive the following:

– Personalized one-on-one mentoring to help refine their pitch

– A professionally produced 90-second video to promote their project

– Opportunities to connect with potential customers, investors and collaborators

“Show of Hands has a special energy. It’s where people show up not just to support a project, but to believe in the future of their city and each other,” said Riley Carpenter, director of programming at Wheeling Heritage. “We’re especially excited to see what new or growing businesses apply for this round.”

For more information, visit wheelingheritage.org/show-of-hands. Or contact Carpenter at 304-232-3087, or by email at rcarpenter@wheelingheritage.org.