West Texas entrepreneurs

Jeremy "Mr. Spring" Ray has tried his hand in just about everything. His Making A Difference - or MAD - operations has at least 13 different business or community ventures.

There's 6 n 60 Speed Dating, where singles try to cram six dates into one hour. He has Clothe Your Soul, an inspirational clothing line, and Junk Men, which gets rid of clutter for $35 a load.

But Ray considers his latest venture to not only be his greatest, but the "premier event in the Permian Basin."

His West Texas Entrepreneur competition is scheduled to kick off Feb. 1. Ray is looking for people 18 and older to comprise six teams of six people each.

Ray said the contest was inspired by both the American and British versions of "The Apprentice" as well as a popular contest in his former hometown of Abilene.

"I felt like we could have a competition like that on a smaller scale," Ray said.

The contest will judge the entrepreneurs' abilities in marketing, sales, recruiting, organizing and constructing a business plan, Ray said.

Ray will use his businesses to give the contestants weekly tasks. But he's also looking for outside businesses to get involved.

Contestants will actually do work for the companies, in return for the businesses putting up between $100 and $500, Ray said. He would like to offer a $3,000 first prize if he gets the sponsors. And there is no entry fee for contestants.

The sponsorships are particularly aimed at small businesses that may be struggling due to the economic slowdown, Ray said.

"If that small flower shop is suffering, this competition is here to lend a hand and assist them," he said.

As far as landing contestants, Ray said he's got people looking for students at both Odessa College and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin - although you don't have to be college age to enter.

Gaven Norris, a UTPB senior who is executive director of the school's Young Democrats and chairman of the Black Leadership Council, has been leading the efforts there. Norris said many of Ray's efforts are aimed at helping the black community.

"It's different, nobody has ever done anything like this before," he said. "I really think it has a market here."

While Norris said he'd like to participate in the contest, his busy schedule may prevent that.

"We're going to try to see if it's possible," he said.