{"id":472576,"date":"2026-06-02T15:49:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/472576\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T15:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:49:19","slug":"luddens-septic-service-wins-accord-business-plan-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/472576\/","title":{"rendered":"Ludden’s Septic Service wins ACCORD Business Plan Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

VIDEO: Allegany County small businesses compete in \u201crigorous\u201d evaluation<\/p>\n

From ACCORD, pictured are contestants <\/p>\n

ACCORD successfully hosted its 2026 Business Plan Competition at the Solutions Hub, showcasing local entrepreneurial talent and fostering economic growth. The high-stakes event was made possible through grant funding from the Empire State Development Entrepreneurship Assistance Center Business Plan Competition Pilot Program.<\/p>\n

The competition brought together businesses from across the region, each presenting comprehensive strategies to launch or expand their business ventures. Participants underwent months of rigorous preparation, sharpening their financial models, marketing plans, and operational strategies to pitch before a panel of expert judges.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Tap to browse and bid!! Hundreds of tools and uniquities<\/p>\n

ACCORD extends its deepest gratitude to Empire State Development for providing the vital funding that makes programs like this possible. Special thanks are also due to the local mentors, judges, and community partners who volunteered their time and expertise to guide businesses toward success.<\/p>\n

The event highlighted an impressive array of business concepts, with funding awarded to the following businesses.<\/p>\n

First Place ($13,000): Ludden\u2019s Septic Services, Inc. provides reliable septic system solutions for homes and businesses in Wellsville, NY area. They offer comprehensive services including septic tank pumping, repairs, and new system installations, ensuring efficient and safe waste management for our clients.<\/p>\n

Ludden\u2019s Septic Service on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Second Place ($10,000): Dark Hollow Lawn Care offers a comprehensive property maintenance solution for homeowners and property managers throughout Allegany County, NY. Founded by a veteran with over three decades of experience in construction and maintenance, services include expert lawn care, garden installations, cemetery services, and humane bee removal.<\/p>\n

www.darkhollowlawncare.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Third Place ($7,000): Compassionate Healing Arts, LLC is a sole practitioner energy healing practice based in Wellsville, New York. The business offers Reiki, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Acupressure services through multiple delivery formats.<\/p>\n

www.compassionatehealingarts.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Judges Choice ($5,000): Raft Waterfowl Studios specializes in the intricate art of preserving waterfowl and other avian species. Led by an award-winning artist, the studio utilizes modern techniques and high-quality reproduction parts to create high quality works of art.<\/p>\n

Raft Waterfowl Studios on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Additional Participating Finalists:<\/p>\n

Heron Hill Yoga \u2013 Located in the village of Wellsville, New York,\u00a0Heron Hill Yoga\u00a0is\u00a0an intimate, community-focused wellness space operated by founder and veteran educator Kristin Buchholz. The studio offers accessible beginner classes, silent meditation, reiki, and creative workshops designed to improve physical strength, ease stress, and foster a deeper mind-body connection for all ages and skill levels.<\/p>\n

www.heronhillyoga.com<\/a><\/p>\n

TriplEscapes \u2013 TriplEscapes is a specialized\u00a0massage and wellness studio\u00a0located in the Town of Belfast, NY, that provides a quiet space for relaxation and therapeutic services. The business focuses on helping clients unwind through personalized massage therapy sessions in a convenient, small-town setting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TriplEscapes on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly proud of every participant who stepped up to pitch their vision.\u201d said Jeff Stager, Business and Community Development Director of ACCORD. \u201cThis competition proves that entrepreneurial spirit is thriving in our community. We thank ESD, our judges, and the community for supporting these amazing businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

ACCORD is a private, non-profit Community Action Agency and Entrepreneurial Assistance Center. ACCORD\u2019s EAC program covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Steuben Counties and incorporates education, networking, and support to empower individuals to navigate the business landscape.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"VIDEO: Allegany County small businesses compete in \u201crigorous\u201d evaluation From ACCORD, pictured are contestants ACCORD successfully hosted its…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":472577,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[114,293,85,46],"class_list":["post-472576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entrepreneurship","tag-business","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-il","tag-israel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472576\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/472577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=472576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=472576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}