Ball State University is partnering with state workforce and education officials to help bring out an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit among Hoosier high schoolers.  The result is a statewide business ideas competition with some lofty prizes.  IPR’s Val Jones reports.

What business concept would you pitch if it could bring you a college scholarship, corporate internship, and $10,000 in cash?

Candy Dodd is a project manager for the Innovate WithIN competition.  She says even before the program’s registration deadline, the ideas coming in are interesting.

“The two that I have seen – one is a reusable baggy.  So, you know when you’re packing your lunch and you have a Ziploc baggy, the plastic ones?  They’ve created these little pouches that are reusable, so it has Velcro on it.  The other one is a car detailing on-the-go.”

Nearly 40 students around Delaware County alone have applied for the competition, and about 200 statewide.

Applicants will first compete regionally and some will eventually move on to a statewide final.

“This is the first one that has ever been a statewide initiative,” says Dodd.  “We do have it for two years, so we’re hoping that next year will be bigger and better.”

The deadline to register has been extended to February 13.  The competition’s rounds take place through the spring, with an in-person pitch finale in Indianapolis in April.