Wilson Stream Properties announces its entrepreneur contest winners

WILTON – Thanks to a unique entrepreneur contest, a new business is coming to town.

Life’s Perks Coffee Company, described as a one-of-kind coffee stop offering gourmet coffees, pastries, gelato and candies, was announced on Friday morning as the top business pick of an entrepreneur contest that saw 14 different proposals vying for a commercial space in downtown.

As winners of the contest, Amy and Eric Ward will receive more than $15,000 worth of incentives to start their new business downtown at 430 Main Street, the former location of the Wilton Hardware Store. They will have about 2,500 square feet to setup for their business.

Wilson Stream Properties, a small property management company with both residential and commercial spaces in Wilton, organized the contest as a way to find a business to occupy 430 Main Street building, the former home of the Wilton Hardware Store. That store closed in 2014 and reopened a block away on Main Street under the ownership of Jeff Chaisson.

Chaisson and Josh Michaud, co-owners of Wilson Stream Properties, said earlier that they got the idea for the contest after seeing similar concepts succeed in the towns of Livermore and Skowhegan.

Fourteen unique business ideas were submitted in the contest, eight of which were picked to move onto developing business plans. After reviewing all the plans, it was very tough to pick a winner, the organizers said.

Those taking part in the advisory board, helping to put the contest together and reviewing business plans, included: Chaisson and Michaud, Alison Hagerstrom, executive director of Greater Franklin Development Council; Wilton Town Manager Rhonda Irish; and Penny Meservier, executive director of Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.

The top pick was the Wards’ Life’s Perks Coffee Company idea which is described as “a one of a kind coffee shop, providing a civilized gourmet coffee experience. The coffee shop will serve gourmet coffees, espresso and drip coffee, and lattes. Simple pastry offerings may vary with seasonality but the primary line will be muffins, breads, cookies, scones, and rolls. All pastries will be supplied daily by a local bakery. Life’s perks will also serve Gelato and Nostalgic Candies.”

On a frigid Friday morning, organizers met to announce the winners.

“Wilson Stream Properties would like to thank everyone involved in the contest,” Chaisson and Michaud said.

Area businesses that have donated to create the incentives package worth over $15,000 include: Allen Builders, a discount on renovation costs; Daily Bulldog, free advertising; Expenet Technologies, new website development; Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, one year free membership; Franklin Savings Bank, free business checking account; Joly & Associates, legal services to establish company; Memories by Melissa, a gift card for commercial photography; SignWorks, a grand opening banner; Sun Journal, a quarter page color ad; Wilson Stream Properties, one year free rent; Wilton Hardware Store, a gift card towards renovations and WKTJ radio station, advertising.

“The whole idea of this is to bring together the incentive package to drive new business into the downtown,” Michaud said earlier.

The building at 430 Main Street in located in the heart of downtown Wilton, next to the Post Office and the Congregational Church, near the Wilton Free Public Library, Wilson Lake and the Western Maine Play Museum in development just down the street. In addition, the downtown has been undergoing an extensive $400,000 improvement project that has included building new sidewalks, reconfiguring the town’s center at the memorial, installing new street lighting and upgrading a parking lot downtown.