 Community members and local business owners gathered tonight to kick off the second annual Destination Downtown Business Challenge, a $50,000 contest to bring a new local business to Downtown Brainerd. Our newest reporter, Rachel Johnson, has more. Downtown is back, baby. It is back. The Laurel Street Coupe building was full with people celebrating the launch of the second annual Destination Downtown Business Challenge tonight in Downtown Brainerd. The contest awards the winning entrant a $50,000 prize package that is designed to help kickstart their local business idea. So one of the things that we hope to do obviously is to fill downtown storefronts. That's the goal. That's why we're all here. But that's only part of it. The other part is to generate positive momentum and energy and buzz around the community to say, hey, we have a great downtown here. Let's invest in it. Let's come back down and celebrate what we have. The contest has three phases. First, enter online by filling out a quick questionnaire. Then, those who advance will begin intensive business planning. The three finalists will then compete in a shark tank style competition. There's our criteria on how we're going to narrow it down. But one of them is, is there impact on the community? Is this something that will definitely help? Will it bring people? Will it bring jobs to this area? Is it something maybe a little different? Something that will add some fills, not just fill spaces, but have a long-term success rate. The contest overall aim is to revitalize Brainerd's four block downtown area known as Opportunity Square. Really was successful at bringing a lot of people out of the woodwork that always had a business dream or a business idea and didn't quite know how to take the next step. So we were really excited about it last year or even more excited about it this year. Many people are very excited about this year's contest. Last year's winner was even here to give advice to this year's entrance. You know what, if you have an idea, just go for it. You know, it doesn't hurt to take a chance and do what you're thinking of and dream a little. And downtown Brainerd really is a fabulous place to be. It's growing, evolving, and it's great. So do it. Reporting from Brainerd, Rachel Johnson, Lakeland News. The winner of the contest will be announced November 15th at the Chamber's annual event. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.