MONTGOMERY, AL — Three Montgomery food truck businesses received a combined $10,000 in growth funding during the Fall Food Truck Festival on Oct. 24, as the City of Montgomery recognized local entrepreneurs through its Food Truck Pitch Competition. Bama Squeeze earned the $5,000 first-place award, followed by The Fiery Fowl, which received $3,000, and Chill Out LLC, which received $2,000.
The competition, led by the City of Montgomery Department of Economic Development through Access Montgomery, was designed to provide food truck operators with capital to make strategic investments in their businesses and strengthen their ability to grow.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Montgomery’s economy, and supporting their growth is an investment in the future of our city,” Mayor Steven L. Reed said. “The Food Truck Pitch Competition gives local entrepreneurs more than recognition — it provides access to capital that can help them strengthen their businesses, reach more customers and create new opportunities. When our small businesses succeed, Montgomery succeeds.”
Applicants submitted information about their businesses, plans for growth and how they would use the funding. Proposals were evaluated based on the strength of the business concept, growth potential, proposed use of funds and the anticipated long-term impact of the investment.
For the City’s economic development team, the competition represents another way to address one of the most persistent challenges facing small businesses: access to capital.
“Access to capital can be the difference between a business maintaining where it is and being able to take the next step,” said Frank Robinson, director of the City of Montgomery Department of Economic Development. “This competition allows us to make a targeted investment in entrepreneurs who have a clear vision for growth while connecting them to the broader support available through Access Montgomery. Our goal is not simply to award funding, but to help build stronger, more sustainable businesses.”
Award recipients will work with the City to finalize an implementation strategy before funding is disbursed, helping ensure each investment is tied to specific business needs and opportunities for growth. For Madalyn Sankey, owner of Bama Squeeze, the award will help address a critical transportation need by supporting the purchase of a vehicle capable of towing her food trailer, increasing the business’s mobility and ability to serve customers at more locations and events.
“Receiving this award means so much more than financial support. It means someone believes in my business and sees its potential to grow,” said Sankey. “Transportation has been one of the biggest challenges in getting my trailer to more locations and events. This investment will help remove that barrier, allowing Bama Squeeze to reach more customers, increase revenue and take the next step toward long-term success. I’m grateful to the City of Montgomery for investing in small businesses like mine and giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to turn their goals into reality.”
The awards were announced during the Fall Food Truck Festival, an initiative launched by Councilman Oronde Mitchell and organized by the City of Montgomery Parks and Recreation Department. The festival brings together food trucks, residents and visitors for an event centered on food, entertainment and community.
The addition of the Food Truck Pitch Competition expanded that mission by pairing the exposure businesses receive at the festival with an opportunity for direct investment in their growth.
“The Fall Food Truck Festival is about creating a space where people can come together, enjoy great food and support the entrepreneurs who are part of our community,” Mitchell said. “Adding the pitch competition takes that support a step further. We are not only giving these businesses a place to serve customers and showcase what they do, but also creating an opportunity for them to receive resources that can help them grow long after the festival is over.“
The partnership between the festival and the pitch competition reflects a broader effort by the City to use community events as platforms for local businesses — connecting entrepreneurs with customers while also creating pathways to resources that can strengthen their operations. The Food Truck Pitch Competition is part of the City’s broader Access Montgomery strategy, which connects entrepreneurs and small businesses with capital, technical assistance, customers and other resources designed to support business growth.
For more information about small business programs and upcoming opportunities in Montgomery, visit MomentumMontgomery.com.
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