The Moore County Chamber of Commerce and the Sandhills Chapter of SCORE are jointly sponsoring the 2010 "Good to Great" contest for small businesses in Moore County.

A $1,500 cash prize will be awarded to the winner. Any eligible business can enter by answering the question: "How can my business take advantage of $1,500 to make itself more successful?" Any use the owner selects is permissible.

Contest submissions will consist of an essay and attachments, with the essay length limited to 500 words or less. The contest runs through April 23, with submissions due by the close of business on Friday, April 23.

In announcing the contest this year, Glenn Phelps, chairman of Sandhills SCORE, and Patrick Coughlin, president of the Chamber of Commerce, urged all respondents to "be very specific in defining your needs and how the funds will be used. The submission should make a logical case for how your business will benefit from the cash prize."

In responding, businesses should consider the many ways they can utilize the award, but submit only that application which, in their judgment, will be most effective in addressing their needs. Illustrative examples include reconfiguring a store or office, changing a storefront window display, remodeling, direct mail campaign, new/used equipment purchase, developing marketing or advertising programs, taking special SCC classes or computer software enhancement.

The essay should essentially be an executive summary that can stand alone and definitively present the merits of the business's need and specific application of funds. The essay should be typed, double-spaced and contain the writer's name, postal address, telephone number and e-mail address.

Attachments may provide further detail regarding the need for or the application of the funds and may also include photographs, designs, drawings, sketches, product descriptions, equipment descriptions and other information.

Complete contest rules can be found online at www.sand-hillsscore.org and www.moorecoun-tychamber.com.

Only one submission per business is allowed. Sandhills SCORE and the Chamber of Commerce will jointly review and judge all entries, and their decision is final. The winner will be notified on or about May 14, 2010. > An award luncheon will be scheduled during the third week in May.

Sandhills SCORE and the Chamber have formed an evaluation committee, chaired by Marilyn Neely, director of the Small Business Center at Sandhills Community College. The committee is composed of members of the Chamber, SCORE and the college's Management and Business Technology Department.

In addition to co-sponsoring the essay contest annually, the Sandhills SCORE Chapter provides assistance to small businesses in a variety ways, including free seminars on topics of interest to new and experienced business owners as well as free confidential counseling.

The chapter is currently expanding these activities and is seeking additional motivated volunteers.

More information on SCORE's activities can be found at the Sandhills SCORE Web site, www.sandhillsscore.org.