Massage entrepreneur wins $100,000 LAEGC contest

LEWISTON — And the winner is Chelsea Fournier.

The 27-year-old massage entrepreneur won almost $100,000 in business start-up aid Friday morning from the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council.

About 2,000 online voters chose the Lewiston native and her proposed business, “Lifestyles Massage Therapy Center,” over the “Havener Hot Plate,” a business proposed by Donald Havener that would make safety gear for skis and snowboards.

The two were finalists in the contest that aimed to draw young entrepreneurs originally from the local area back to Lewiston-Auburn.

Fournier and her sister, Kim Jacques, are already looking at prospective properties in the cities and hope to open in the fall.

For more, see tomorrow’s Sun Journal.

: Chelsea Fournier laughs with the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce president Chip Morrison, right, Friday morning at Lewiston/Auburn College as she and Don Havener, left, await the announcement of who won the LAEGC’s contest. Fournier was awarded almost $100,000 in business start-up aid for her massage therapy business.

: Chelsea Fournier is presented with a check from Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council Chairman Alan Hahnel, left, and Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce President Chip Morrison Friday morning at Lewiston/Auburn College. Fournier was named the winner of the LAEGC’s contest to bring young entrepreneurs to the area.