Whitley County business among Invest 606 Accelerator and Pitch Contest finalists

Invest 606, a business accelerator and pitch contest serving Eastern and Southern Kentucky, has announced 14 business finalists, who have a chance to win over $30,000 in cash prizes through its pitch contest, including one Whitley County business, one Knox County venture, and four Laurel County businesses.

Jennifer Baker and Amy Gray are the owners of Jennielyn Boutique. Located in Whitley County, Jennielyn Boutique is a sister-owned small clothing/bridal/formal wear boutique that is passionate about serving others and always putting customer service at the forefront.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Invest 606 provides support to the businesses with six months of training and services. A $15,000 grand prize, $8,000 second place prize, and $4,000 third place prize will be awarded to the 14 finalists completing the accelerator, along with thousands of dollars in cash and other prizes. To be eligible to apply, the finalists had to be based in the 606 area code.

The selection process involved a competitive review among a panel of judges who are business and economic leaders in the state and region. The 14 finalists are based in nine different counties in the region including: Boyd, Casey, Clay, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Perry, Rockcastle and Whitley.

Combined, they employ more than 46 people and generate more than $865,000 in annual revenue. The businesses represent 10 different industries including agriculture, arts, entertainment, healthcare, retail, and technology. The finalist businesses and owners are:

• Jennielyn Boutique: Jennifer Baker and Amy Gray – Whitley County
• Tri-County Mystery Meets: Cat Rhoden Goguen and Cofounders Chris Campbell, Debbie Brown Meritt, Kim Miller, and Brooke Cole Stansbury – Knox County
• Bluegrass Discovery Center: Maryann and James Hendrix – Laurel County
• Hansen’s Harvest KY: Josh and Cynthia Hansen – Laurel County
• Mountain Gap Coffee Company: Evan Sparkman – Laurel County
• Prodigy27 LLC DBA ProRes: Lucas Magee and Corey Robinson – Laurel County
• Acres of Grace Farm: Lisa and Amy Bourque – Clay County
• Appalachian Apparel Co: Joseph McKenney – Perry County
• Firefly Hills RV and Glamping Park: Tonja and Troy Lesmeister – Jackson County
• Parsons Pastures: Sarah and Adam Parsons – Rockcastle County
• Ready Set Play: Joey Jones – Perry County
• Simply Kneaded Massage: Alyx Kenner – Casey County
• Sylvatica Forest Farm: Joana Amorim and Michael Beck –  Rockcastle County
• The Tipton Creative, LLC: Madeline Tipton – Boyd County

Over the next six months, the finalists will complete an individualized and flexible training plan. They will present their business to the public at a Demo Day on Feb. 4, in Hazard. The final pitch contest will be held on April 27.

Invest 606 is founded and led by Dr. Geoff Marietta with the mission to catalyze business growth in Eastern Kentucky by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed today and grow tomorrow. Marietta is the Chief Impact Officer at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, which counts Invest 606 as one of its impact investment initiatives.

“We are celebrating five years of amazing entrepreneurs in Eastern Kentucky. This fifth cohort shows the incredible diversity and innovation of businesses growing and succeeding in the region,” said Marietta. “There are now 55 businesses that have participated in Invest 606 representing 23 different counties, 220 employees, and $5.9 million in total revenue. The future of Kentucky’s 606 region is brighter than ever.”

A full list of the Finalists and their businesses can be found at https://www.appalachianky.org/2024-finalists/. Anyone interested in the events and the accelerator contest may learn more by visiting their website or following Invest 606 on Facebook.

The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky is a founding partner of Invest 606, alongside the James Graham Brown Foundation and The University of the Cumberlands.