Robert Armstrong, founder of G Mommas Cookies, was recently selected as a finalist for the Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition.

While Armstrong is preparing for the final pitch competition on April 27, he’s hoping Selma can help him win a different award.

G Mommas, along with four other businesses in the finals, are in the running to win the Startup Competition Audience Choice Video Contest.

“It’s an extra award. It’s a chance for us to show the state [who Selma is],” Armstrong said.

The winner of the award will receive $1,000 at the finale in Mobile. Each participant made a short video quickly explaining their company and product.

In his video, Armstrong mentioned that he started his company by making the cookies that his grandmother, Anice Morris Armstrong, used to make when he was younger.

“I took my grandmother’s cookies recipes and started a business around it,” Armstrong said in the video.

“We not only want to share my grandmothers awesome cookies, but we also want to make an impact on my local community.”

Armstrong said the community has pulled together for him in the past, and he is hoping they will rally behind him again for this competition.

“The community is part of the reason why I named the company Selma Good and why I care so much about the community is because of their support,” Armstrong said.

“Selma is like my family. Even though they may not be blood related, I feel like the community is part of my family.”

The voting competition opened March 20 and will run through April 21, and each person is able to vote once per day.

Armstrong said although Selma is smaller than the other communities in the competition, he knows how much the people care.

“Most of the winners of these awards are from the bigger cities like Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville, and to have a winner from the Black Belt area would be a huge win for our area,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong has been working hard to get ready for the final pitch and hopes to win some of the money to push his business to the next level.

“It would be huge for us to win,” he said. “We would be able to do some things that we’ve been wanting to do for a long time, we just haven’t had the ability to because lack of capital. I think it would be a game changer for us if we’re able to win.”

Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), funds and mentors aspiring entrepreneurs across the state to foster job creation.

Over the last decade, Launchpad has invested over $2.9 million in 61 companies; the startups have created 502 jobs and secured $50 million in additional funding.

The final five businesses are hoping to receive money from the $250,000 cash pool, which will be handed out according to how the judges deem necessary.

Armstrong said the competition started with 19 businesses vying for a chance to earn the money. Along with G Mommas, the final five business are AYAS Renewables, Inc., CigarClub.com, Maho Shades, LLC and Wyndy.

To vote for G Mommas, visit http://alabamalaunchpad.com/startup-competition/vote/.

“We need everyone to vote every day,” Armstrong said.