A version of this article was first published on Lake County Record-Bee.

Maryann Schmid (left) co-founder of the “1 Team 1 Dream” nonprofit and Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora hold up a mock check Thursday at Clearlake City Hall, announcing the city’s donation of $10,000 towards first prize for the “Hands Up Lake County Project,” a competition to open doors for budding entrepreneurs and small businesses in the County. Co-founder Olga Martin Steele (center) stands in the background.