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Denver Wants To Help Small Businesses Succeed With 'Jump Start'

DENVER (CBS4)- The City of Denver wants to help small businesses succeed with $50,000 prize in cash and services to the person who has the best business plan.

It's all part of the JumpStart Biz Plan.

"Waste Farmers creates products for people to grow food, eat well and live full," said Waste Farmers CEO John-Paul Maxfield. "This right here is our Maxfield Potting Soil, it's deep and rich."

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Waste Farmers (credit: CBS)

Maxfield said his startup business struggled to grow in the beginning, something many small businesses deal with.

"Raising capital to grow this company, this grand vision as all entrepreneurs, has been difficult," said Maxfield.

Maxfield believed in his product and so did the City of Denver. Waste Farmers won the 2014 JumpStart Biz Plan. They received $30,000 cash along with marketing and legal services and office space. It's just what the business needed to grow roots. They've added four people and grown 100 percent.

"The city is really committed to small businesses and helping grow our small business culture here in Denver so we're offering for the third time, Denver's JumpStart Biz Plan," said City of Denver Office of Economic Development spokesman Derek Woodbury.

"Winning this contest was the difference between making it and not. The money was crucial to perpetuate some of the grown we needed to add more people, strengthening our marketing and going to market," said Maxfield.

The City of Denver is looking for more small businesses to enter the contest, those with innovative business plans, thoughtful for future grown with a unique product or service.

Waste Farmers said it's a win-win situation, just like their cultivation soils.

"It's all natural and organic, it's safe for your home, kids and pets," said Maxfield. "This story that we've been painting from day one is coming to life and it's great."

The JumpStart Biz Plan contest is open to the first 150 entries. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 14.

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