Portabella’s Wins Foley Main Street Bright Ideas Pitch Contest, Advances to Main Street Alabama Regional Competition

Foley, AL – [February 6, 2025] – Foley Main Street is proud to announce that Portabella’s has been named the winner of the Foley Main Street Pitch Contest and will advance to the Main Street Alabama regional competition. This achievement marks a significant step in the Bright Ideas grant program, which is injecting nearly $400,000 into emerging and growing businesses located in Designated Main Street Alabama Districts. BRIGHT IDEAS is powered by ALSPARK, a new Main Street Alabama initiative to energize emerging and growing businesses in Designated Main Street Alabama Districts across the state. Bright Ideas is supported by funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The competition, held exclusively for businesses located in the Foley Main Street District and current 2024/2025 Foley Main Street supporters, provided an exciting platform for existing businesses to pitch their business expansion ideas. To qualify, businesses were required to present a persuasive three-minute video pitch detailing how they would invest the Bright Ideas grant funds to expand and grow their business.

The competition was fierce, with six local businesses vying for the top spot: As Seasons Change Down South, Colt Grill, BBQ & Spirits, Dorothy June Booksellers, Feast & Co., Southern Shores Eats & Drinks, and Portabella’s. After careful deliberation, Portabella’s emerged victorious, earning the opportunity to represent Downtown Foley in the Main Street Alabama regional competition, where they will compete for another $10,000 grant and an invitation to the 2025 Bright Ideas State Finals for a chance at an additional $25,000 grant.

The judging panel featured a distinguished group of business leaders with extensive expertise in small business development:

Richard Busby  - Richard has led initiatives in community development, diversity, equity, inclusion, and retail banking. He is currently Senior Community Development Manager for the South District at Regions Bank, with prior leadership roles at Avadian Credit Union, Wells Fargo, Wachovia, and SouthTrust.  Busby serves on the boards of Red Mountain Theatre, Cornerstone Revitalization Foundation, Alabama Small Business Development Initiative, and Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund. 

Mike Dow – After three combat tours as a helicopter machine gunner with the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam, Mike Dow co-founded and served as Sr. VP of Sales & Marketing for Quality Micro Systems (QMS), a Boston-backed startup that grew to an NYSE-listed company and was later sold to Minolta. A “recovering politician,” he served 16 years as Mayor of Mobile, leading $2B in downtown redevelopment and securing $8B in foreign manufacturing investment. Dow now co-leads Oscity Labs, developing hemp- and cannabis-based medicines as opioid alternatives. He is Vice Chair of Vets Recover, aiding veterans with PTSD, addiction, and pain management. Additionally, he is Managing Director of GIS QSP/EntropiQ, a leader in Post-Quantum & AI cybersecurity.

Danette Richards is Senior Director of Small Business Development at the Mobile Chamber, overseeing business consulting, training, and programs. Previously, she led the Women’s Business Center of Southern Alabama and has experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings.  Recognized as a Women in Business Champion by the U.S. Small Business Administration at state and national levels, she holds an M.S. in Instructional Design Technology and a B.A. in Organizational Communication from Memphis State University. A Leadership Mobile and U.S. Chamber Institute graduate, she serves on multiple boards, including the Alabama Microenterprise Network and the Alabama SBDC Network.

“We are thrilled to support our downtown businesses and celebrate their entrepreneurial spirit,” said Darrelyn Dunmore, Executive Director of Foley Main Street. “The Bright Ideas program and the SPARK initiative provide vital funding and resources to help small businesses thrive, and we are excited to see Portabella’s represent Downtown Foley at the regional level and, hopefully, at the state competition!”

For more information about Foley Main Street and the Bright Ideas program, please contact:

Darrelyn Dunmore
Executive Director, Foley Main Street
[email protected] 

251-366-1565
www.foleymainstreet.com