Contact: Michelle Howington, info@wtenterprisecenter.com, 806-651-8500
Copy by Adam Jiwa, adam@wtenterprisecenter.com, 806-651-8503
AMARILLO, Texas — Three businesses in Potter and Randall counties each received $100,000 during the 28th annual Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge awards ceremony July 23.
The Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge, funded by the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. and managed by the WT Enterprise Center under the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, supports local businesses aiming to expand their operations and create economic impact outside of the Amarillo metropolitan statistical area.
This year’s award recipients are FireFit, Free Cheese Prints and Panhandle Prosthetics & Orthotics. The awards were presented at the WTEC, 2300 N. Western St. in Amarillo.
“The EnterPrize Challenge gives entrepreneurs a boost when they need it most, helping them take their businesses further while strengthening our community,” said Michelle Howington, program manager for the WTEC. “It is always inspiring to see the drive these business owners bring to the table.”
Since taking over the program in 2001, the WTEC has worked with award recipients who have reported a combined $1.68 billion in revenue, $474 million in payroll and $71 million in capital investments.
“The EnterPrize Challenge is the quintessential example of WT’s commitment to this region,” said Gina Woodward, executive director of the WTEC. “We’re not just cheering from the sidelines; we are partners in bringing new capital into the Panhandle. This program fuels our entire economic engine by creating jobs and opportunities through these incredible businesses for years to come.”
FireFit, led by CEO Randy Johnson, manufactures tactical fitness equipment and programs designed to improve firefighter safety and performance. A 23-year veteran firefighter, Johnson launched the company in 2017 to address injury prevention within the profession. The funding will support the purchase of manufacturing equipment and a branded trailer to aid deliveries, as well as nationwide promotion for the program.
Tate and Reesa Atkinson founded Free Cheese Prints in 2017 as a creative venture. They bring more than 30 years of combined experience to their custom screen printing and design business. The funding will enable them to purchase new machines and equipment, allowing them to expand sales outside of Texas, streamline production and hire more people.
Panhandle Prosthetics & Orthotics, owned by Neil Jones, provides mobile custom orthotic and prosthetic services to clients with mobility challenges. The funding will support the purchase of 3D printing equipment, allowing the company to expand its service area and increase efficiency in on-site production of custom devices.
Returning judges for this year’s competition included Sonja Clark, Amarillo site leader for Bell Flight; Rachael Bentley of Optimum Rope Access Solutions, a previous EnterPrize Challenge recipient; and Dr. Jeffry Babb, WT’s Stan Sigman Professor of Business. New judges serving two-year terms were Amy Henderson, vice president and commercial loan officer at Amarillo National Bank; and Mike Moreland, president of Vitel Communications.
America’s SBDC at WTAMU, another department within the Engler College of Business, provided guidance to applicants throughout the competition, offering assistance with business plans, financial projections and market research at no cost.
The EnterPrize Challenge provides funding as a five-year forgivable loan. This year, the $300,000 award will help businesses expand operations and generate an estimated $3.17 million in revenue in the local economy over the next three years to support Amarillo’s growth.
The program awards funding to businesses located in Potter or Randall counties that export the majority of their products or services outside of the five-county Amarillo metropolitan area, helping these companies grow while bringing new revenue into the region.
“Entrepreneurs in this region have a unique ability to innovate and expand,” said Doug Nelson, AEDC interim president and CEO. “We are proud to support them as they build businesses that create jobs and economic opportunities in the Panhandle.”
“The Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge is a powerful expression of our College’s commitment to innovation and deep community engagement,” said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean of the Engler College of Business. “Our strategic plan calls for us to serve as an intellectual resource that contributes to economic growth, and these entrepreneurs are the embodiment of that goal. Their success reinforces our mission to foster leaders who make significant societal contributions, and we are honored to support their journey.”
Partnering with and retaining community businesses to improve the quality of life in the Panhandle and beyond is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $165 million.
About WT Enterprise Center
WTEC is a department of WT’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business and works side-by-side with America’s SBDC at WTAMU in supporting economic development throughout the Texas Panhandle. WTEC provides panhandle entrepreneurs with business coaching, access to facilities, access to capital, and various other trainings and programs to assist them in growing companies with strong leadership. WTEC also aims to provide opportunities for College of Business students to intern in local businesses, showing them the hard work and dedication entrepreneurs must have to be successful. To learn more about the WT Enterprise Center, visit wtenterprisecenter.com or contact info@wtenterprisecenter.com or 806-651-8500.
About West Texas A&M University
WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.
