Small Business Spotlight Official Rules
Small Business Spotlight Offical Rules
Expansion Capital Group “Small Business Spotlight” Contest
NO PURCHASE OR OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTION DOES NOT INCREASE CHANCES OF WINNING.
(This is a merit-based contest. Winner is selected based on judging criteria, not chance.)
1) Sponsor
Expansion Capital Group, LLC (“Sponsor” or “ECG”), 5801 S Corporate Place, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108.
2) Contest Name
“Small Business Spotlight” Contest (the “Contest”).
3) Contest Period
The Contest begins February 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM CT and ends April 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT (the “Contest Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeper.
4) Eligibility
To be eligible, a business (the “Business”) must meet all requirements below as of the entry deadline:
1. Location / Operations: Business is operated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota or surrounding areas and have a physical business presence in the Sioux Falls area (principal place of business or primary operating location); For purposes of this provision “surrounding area” shall be defined as a location in South Dakota not more than 20 miles from center city Sioux Falls.
2. Age of Business: Business has been operating and open to the public for at least one (1) year. Proof may include registration, tax filings, lease, invoices, or other Sponsor-approved documentation.
3. Revenue Cap: Business had less than $5,000,000 in gross revenue for calendar year 2025. Sponsor may require documentation (e.g., most recent P&L, tax return, or accountant letter).
4. Employee Minimum: Business has more than one (1) W-2 employee. Sole proprietors and individual consultants with no W-2 employees are not eligible. Sponsor may request payroll records or a verification letter.
5. Business Checking Account: Business must maintain a business checking account at an FDIC-insured financial institution.
6. Good Standing: Business is in good standing with applicable state/local licensing and is not currently suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from doing business.
7. No Bankruptcy: Business has not filed for protection under any chapter of the Bankruptcy Code in the last six (6) months, has not consulted a bankruptcy attorney in the last six (6) months, and is not contemplating either the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding or the closing of Seller’s business.
8. No Conflicts / Restricted Parties: Business is not owned or controlled (in whole or in part) by Sponsor’s employees, officers, directors, managers, or immediate family/household members of those individuals. Sponsor may also exclude businesses with a material conflict of interest, including vendors/partners directly involved in administering or judging the Contest.
9. Compliance: Entry and participation must comply with these Official Rules and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Who may enter:
· Entries may be submitted by (a) a Business owner, or (b) a third party nominating a Business.
· If a nominator is not an owner, Sponsor may require owner approval, submission of Entry Materials, as described below, and verification before final judging or award distribution.
Age requirement for entrant: Persons owning or controlling a business entrant must be at least 18 years old and a resident of South Dakota.
Void where prohibited.
5) How to Enter
During the Contest Period, entrants must complete the entry process at www.ecg.com/smallbizspotlight
Required Entry Materials (the “Entry”):
1. Completed online entry form with accurate contact information.
2. A written submission answering all prompts, including:
o Business story and impact
o Use-of-funds plan
o Growth/expansion plan and expected outcomes
o Community impact and/or job creation plan
3. Optional supporting materials: photos, short video (max 2 minutes), testimonials, financial snapshot, pitch deck, etc. (Optional materials will be considered only if submitted by the deadline.)
Entry limits: Limit one (1) Entry per Business. If multiple Entries are submitted for the same Business, Sponsor may accept the first complete Entry or the best complete Entry, in Sponsor’s discretion.
Entry requirements:
· Entries must be original or properly authorized; cannot include unlawful, misleading, or defamatory claims.
· Sponsor may disqualify any Entry that is incomplete, fraudulent, generated to deceive, violates these rules, or attempts to manipulate the Contest.
6) Consideration and Nature of Contest
This Contest is intended to be a contest (skill-based) where Entry requires substantial effort and winner selection is based on disclosed judging criteria and not based on chance.
7) Permitted and Prohibited Use of Award Funds
The prize funds must be used only for organic growth or expansion of the winning Business.
Permitted uses (examples):
· Equipment or tools that expand capacity (not luxury/personal use)
· Facility improvements, leasehold improvements, or expansion buildout
· Hiring and training W-2 employees
· Inventory needed to support growth
· Marketing/advertising tied to growth plan
· Technology improvements, systems, or software supporting scaling
· Working capital directly tied to the approved growth plan
Prohibited uses (not allowed):
· Purchasing, investing in, or acquiring another business or “new company” (whole or partial)
· Paying off personal debt or owner distributions/bonuses not tied to growth plan
· Gambling, illegal activity, or any unlawful purpose
· Political contributions
· Payments to Sponsor or Sponsor’s affiliates (unless pre-approved as ordinary course vendor services and not a conflict)
· Luxury purchases unrelated to business growth
· Back taxes or penalties (unless Sponsor explicitly approves as part of compliance remediation tied to growth)
· Personal, family, or household purposes or uses
8) Prize
One (1) winner will receive: $25,000 awarded as [check / ACH] payable to the Business legal entity (not an individual).
Approximate Retail Value (ARV): $25,000.
No substitution: Prize is non-transferable and no substitution except Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater value if necessary.
9) Judging and Scoring Criteria
A committee of qualified judges (“Judges”) will evaluate eligible Entries using the criteria below.
Scoring (100 points total):
1. Clarity and feasibility of growth plan (0 to 30 points)
2. Projected economic impact of prize funds (0 to 25 points)
3. Community impact in Sioux Falls area (0 to 20 points)
4. Sustainability of business model and execution readiness (0 to 15 points)
5. Quality of Entry, storytelling, and evidence/supporting materials (0 to 10 points)
Tie-breaker: If tied, highest score in Criterion #1 wins. If still tied, Judges will re-review tied Entries and vote by majority.
10) Judges
Entries will be judged by a panel comprised of five (5) Executives of Expansion Capital Group and one person selected from the Sioux Falls business community at-large. Sponsor may replace Judges as needed for conflicts or availability.
11) Winner Selection, Notification, and Announcement
Selection date: Within 15 days after Contest Period ends). Notification: Sponsor will attempt to notify the potential winner via email/phone using information provided in the Entry. The potential winner must respond within 72 hours.
If winner does not respond, declines to permit publication by Expansion Capital Group of information about its business or is otherwise ineligible, Sponsor may disqualify that Entry and select the next highest-scoring Entry as the winner.
Public announcement: Sponsor will announce the winner on or about 5/1/2026 and may present the award at an event. Sponsor may notify entrants of the winner via email and/or post publicly.
12) Verification, Documentation, and Conditions to Receive Prize
Before prize delivery, winner must complete and return within 5 days:
· Eligibility verification documentation (revenue, payroll, business age, good standing)
· W-9 (tax form) and any required identity verification
· Prize acceptance agreement
· Liability release and publicity release
· Growth-use budget and timeline for funds
Promotional participation: Winner agrees to make itself available for one (1) interview and/or one (1) video recording session and related photography, at Sponsor’s request, at a mutually agreed time, to discuss the Contest, the Business, and the intended use of prize funds. Failure to participate may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.
Sponsor may require additional reasonable documentation to confirm eligibility and compliance. Failure to provide documentation may result in disqualification.
13) Taxes
Winner is responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes associated with prize receipt and use. Prizes of $600 or more require tax reporting; Sponsor will issue an IRS Form 1099 to the winner as applicable.
14) Publicity
Except where prohibited, winner agrees that Sponsor may use the winner’s name, Business name, likeness, city/state, Entry content excerpts, reasons that it was selected as the contest winner and story for promotional purposes in any media without additional compensation. Sponsor may require a separate publicity release.
15) General Release of Liability
By entering, entrant and Business release Sponsor and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and representatives from any and all claims, damages, or liability arising from participation, Entry submission, prize acceptance, or prize use, including but not limited to technical issues, lost entries, and any injuries or damages of any kind.
16) FTC and Advertising Compliance
Sponsor intends to conduct this Contest in compliance with applicable consumer protection and advertising laws and to avoid unfair or deceptive practices, including on social media and in promotional materials.
17) Social Media and Platform Disclosures
If promoted on social platforms, the Contest will comply with the rules of each platform used. Entries will not falsely imply platform sponsorship. Sponsor will include required disclosures where promotions appear.
18) Marketing Disclosure Requirement
All calls-to-action and promotional materials must include an abbreviated version of these rules and a link/URL to the full Official Rules.
19) Privacy
Sponsor will collect and use personal information provided by entrants to administer the Contest, verify eligibility, contact entrants, announce the winner, and comply with legal obligations. Sponsor may share information with service providers assisting with Contest administration and with tax authorities as required. Sponsor will handle personal data according to its privacy practices and applicable law.
20) Intellectual Property and Entry Rights
Entrant represents they have rights to submit all Entry materials. Entrant grants Sponsor a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, edit (for length/clarity), and publish non-confidential Entry materials for Contest administration and promotional purposes. Sponsor will not sell Entry content to third parties as a standalone product. For purposes of this provision, confidential Entry materials means business records, tax returns, accountant letters and other materials specifically designated as confidential.
21) Disqualification and Fraud
Sponsor may disqualify any entrant or Business for:
· Violating these Rules
· Providing false or misleading information
· Attempting to tamper with the Contest
· Submitting offensive, unlawful, or infringing materials
22) Right to Cancel, Modify, or Suspend
Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest if fraud, technical failure, or any other factor impairs integrity or proper functioning, as determined by Sponsor, subject to applicable law.
23) Disputes and Governing Law
This Contest is governed by the laws of the State of South Dakota, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes will be resolved in a court of competent jurisdiction located in the Second Judicial Circuit of South Dakota.
24) Contact
Questions: smallbizspotlight@ecg.com