Free use of this business space in Galva, and other business expenses, will go to the winner of the Galva Spark Business Competition.

Thinking of starting or expanding a business, but don’t know how you could cover the startup costs?

Does Galva have a deal for you!

Specifically, Crescent City Tap in Galva is offering to provide a downtown storefront free. For a year.

The Galva Spark Business Competition is offering the chance to apply for free use of the space just south of Crescent City on Front Street for a year. The offer is open to startups and to existing businesses launching a new concept.

Sponsors of the competition are Crescent City, the City of Galva, the Galva Economic Development Commission and Hometown Consulting of Peoria.

The space being offered is part of what once was Galva Furniture.

David Dyer, Galva’s city administrator, said Crescent City will provide the space rent-free for the first year. Dyer said retail space of that size would lease for at least $1,500 a month.

“That’s $18,000 right there,” he said.

The prize will also include utilities, phone and Internet service, garbage pickup and taxes for a year.

Dyer estimated that the total value of this gift to the tenant would be at least $25,000.

“We’re just trying to give people a little leg up,” he said.

A committee of independent judges will be named to go over applications for the space and determine who will get it.

Dyer compared the effort to the six-county Fast Pitch competition, in which he was involved several years ago.

Fast Pitch invited potential entrepreneurs to come in and “pitch” their business ideas to community leaders. It created several successful businesses in Henry County, Dyer said.

He said the offer of a year of free business space is a “win-win” proposition both for the entrepreneur who gets the space and for the city, as a new business should attract more people to downtown Galva.

To apply for the free space, or for more information, visit www.hometownconsultants.com.

Dyer said the deadline to apply is June 24. The winner will be announced during Galva’s July 4 competition.

For more information, email cmcdaniel@hometownconsultants.com or phone (309) 370-2865.