Also, City of Kokomo leaf collection begins Nov. 2

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A plan to expand her product line and bring custom embroidery services in-house earned Olive Tree Boutique owner Whitnie Mitchell the $10,000 grand prize Thursday night, Oct. 15, at The Drive, a business pitch competition presented by Inventrek Technology Park.

Mitchell plans to use the winnings to expand the downtown Kokomo boutique’s custom quilted bag line, purchase an embroidery machine to offer in-house customization and invest in marketing to attract wholesale clients. The investment will help diversify the boutique’s offerings, create new revenue opportunities and position the business for continued growth in the wholesale market.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be selected as The Drive competition winner and to be part of a community that believes in and invests in small businesses,” Mitchell said. “I’m so excited for what’s ahead for Olive Tree and can’t wait to bring our vision to life.”

An initiative of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, The Drive gives Howard County entrepreneurs and small business owners an opportunity to compete for $10,000 in seed money to support business growth. The annual competition culminates in a “Shark Tank”-style event where finalists pitch their growth plans to a panel of judges before a live audience. This year’s event was held at Hingst Hall on the Ivy Tech Community College campus.

“Small business owners have big ideas for where they want to take their businesses, but turning those ideas into a plan takes time, resources and guidance,” said Caitlin Sheets, economic development manager for the Alliance. “The Drive gives us an opportunity to work directly with entrepreneurs, help them think through their next steps and give them the tools and confidence to pursue growth.”

Mitchell was one of three finalists competing in this year’s event. The other two entrepreneurs presented their own plans for business expansion.

Adrean Lamberg, owner of Brix & Co. Candles, pitched plans to purchase and outfit a climate-controlled mobile boutique trailer. The investment would allow her to expand sales of her handcrafted candles and wax melts at markets and community events throughout the year while reaching customers in new locations.

Claire Cooper, owner of The Elevated Hippie, presented plans to grow the business through the Elevated Hippie Collective. The initiative would expand opportunities for local artisans through private-label products, wholesale distribution and collaborative branding and marketing support.

In the months leading up to the competition, all three finalists worked closely with Alliance staff to prepare their businesses for their next stages of growth. That support included reviewing revenue and expenses, evaluating financial projections and customer segments, and refining their business plans. Staff also helped each entrepreneur develop a final pitch that clearly communicated their growth goals and how the $10,000 prize would help achieve them.

“The impact of The Drive extends well beyond the three finalists and the presentation of a $10,000 check,” said Lori Dukes, president and CEO of the Alliance. “When local businesses grow, they create opportunities that benefit our entire community. They introduce new products and services, support other local businesses and contribute to a stronger local economy. Investing in entrepreneurs today helps build the kind of business community we want for Howard County’s future.”

The 2026 Drive competition was made possible through the support of sponsors Community First Bank of Indiana, Duke Energy, Card Payment Solutions, Howard County, DropLight, Foster Technologies, the City of Kokomo, Solidarity, Huston and Ivy Tech Community College.

For more information about The Drive and other Alliance initiatives to support business growth and economic development throughout Howard County, visit greaterkokomo.com.

City of Kokomo leaf collection begins Nov. 2

City crews will begin collecting leaves on Monday, November 2, 2026. Leaf collection will begin on the south side of town and continue north until all leaves are picked up or until weather no longer permits leaf pickup. Crews should be able to collect leaves from each residence approximately two to four times during the leaf pickup season, depending on the rate at which leaves fall.

Please help make leaf collection more efficient by:

• Raking loose leaves to the curb, but not into the street. Leaves placed in the street may clog drains and cause street flooding.
• Keeping piles away from anything that can be damaged during collection.
• Not mixing leaves with trash, limbs, landscaping materials or garden waste. The leaf vacuum cannot pick up these heavy items. Bagged leaves under 50 lbs. can be set out with trash for collection.

Limb collection will be on hold until leaf collection ends. City residents may take tree limbs to the Greencycle yard waste center at 1120 S. Dixon Road at no charge to city and county residents. For questions, contact the Department of Public Maintenance and Refuse at 453-4030.