Hot Yoga Studio Wins Jump-Start Competition

V1 Staff |

A new downtown Eau Claire yoga studio earned a major local business accolade within days of opening its doors. Amy Erickson’s Latitude 44 Yoga Studio won the grand prize – the Jim Mishefske Award – in the ninth annual Jump-Start Downtown Business Plan Competition sponsored by Downtown Eau Claire Inc. The studio, 313 E. Madison St., offers classes ranging from hot yoga to prenatal yoga in a newly designed space. The grand prize includes $5,000 as well as a $500 media package from DECI and $680 worth of marketing, branding, and website services from JB Systems. The runner up, who will receive $500 in start-up capital and $420 worth of services from Spin Vision, was Elizabeth Griggs and her custom jewelry business, Casual Ore Formal, 307 S. Farwell St., Suite 301. In addition, Ashley Kosharek of AMK Cleaning Services won the Innovative Idea Prize, a $1,000 scholarship to the UW Small Business Development Center. “The Jump-Start Business Plan Competition is one way DECI can help stimulate entrepreneurial activity in the downtown. We were pleased to see so many applicants this year,” said DECI Executive Director Mike Schatz. “We look forward to working with these new and exciting businesses that will help to grow our downtown.” To learn more about DECI or to learn how you can enter next year’s competition, visit downtowneauclaire.org.