{"id":4224,"date":"2026-07-20T14:01:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/?p=4224"},"modified":"2026-07-20T14:02:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:02:53","slug":"north-iowa-business-named-semifinalist-in-sba-patriot-pitch-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/2026\/07\/north-iowa-business-named-semifinalist-in-sba-patriot-pitch-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"North Iowa Business Named Semifinalist in SBA Patriot Pitch Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Garner-based Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. has been named one of 10 semifinalists in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Patriot Pitch Competition. The competition is part of the SBA’s Freedom 250 initiative, which recognizes small businesses that are creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and supporting American manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo from left: Tim Schmidt (Mayor of Garner), Michelle Hanson (NIACC Business & Workforce Solutions), Ryan Sonquist, Dean Sonquist, Joel Pederson (President, NIACC), Marcia Sonquist, Andrew Sonquist, Brook Boehmler (Regional Director, NIA SBDC), Candi Karsjens (Director, NIACC Pappajohn Center), Jill Kramer (Executive Director, Hancock County EDC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1993 by Dean and Marcia Sonquist, Plas-Tech Tooling has grown from a two-car garage into a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The company specializes in precision machining, injection mold design and building, and plastic injection molding, serving customers in industries including agriculture, aerospace, defense, heavy equipment, and other industrial markets across North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the second generation of the Sonquist family helps lead the company as it continues to invest in new technology while creating quality jobs and supporting workforce development in North Iowa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Plas-Tech Tooling represents the very best of Iowa entrepreneurship,” said Candi Karsjens, Executive Director of the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. “They have taken advantage of opportunities to learn, improve, and grow while continuing to invest in their employees, their business, and our region.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, Plas-Tech has worked with the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, the Iowa Small Business Development Center, Venture School, CIRAS, Hancock County Economic Development, and NIACC workforce training programs to support its continued growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plas-Tech now advances to the next round of judging for a chance to compete in the Patriot Pitch finals in Washington, D.C., this September. A total of 1,182 businesses from across the country applied for the competition, with five finalists competing for $1 million in prize funding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Garner-based Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. has been named one of 10 semifinalists in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Patriot Pitch Competition. The competition is part of the SBA’s Freedom 250 initiative, which recognizes small businesses that are creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and supporting American manufacturing. Founded in 1993 by Dean and Marcia Sonquist, Plas-Tech Tooling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":4225,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nNorth Iowa Business Named Semifinalist in SBA Patriot Pitch Competition - NIACC Minute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/2026\/07\/north-iowa-business-named-semifinalist-in-sba-patriot-pitch-competition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"North Iowa Business Named Semifinalist in SBA Patriot Pitch Competition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Garner-based Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. has been named one of 10 semifinalists in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Patriot Pitch Competition. 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