Sullivan grad wins grant for bakery business model

Pastry chef and Sullivan University graduate Alisha Hardison recently won a $15,000 grant and six months’ free rent for an original bakery concept through the city of Owensboro Ky.'s first annual eMerging Ventures Challenge, a citywide economic development competition that seeks to sponsor start-ups and expansions of existing businesses.

Hardison entered her bakery business plan--Dalisha's Desserts--into the competition in January, and after being selected as the competition's only culinary business finalist, she beat out three technology-based contenders to claim the grand prize. Hardison is using the grant money to move her baking operations out of her home and into a new commercial space.

In an e-mail to her alma mater, she credited much of her success to Sullivan and chef-instructors like Scott Turner. Of Turner, she wrote: "He's an amazing teacher. I had him for most all of my baking classes, and I wouldn't be here without him. He pushed us to be our best and gave us all the skills that we needed to succeed.”