June 18, 2007

Gov. Blagojevich Announces Winners of Innovate Illinois 2007

Thirteen Companies from Across the State Selected to Take Part in Six-Month Mentorship Program and Each Will Receive $10,000 Grant

CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the winners of INNOVATE Illinois 2007, his third annual small business challenge, to recognize and assist some of the most innovative small companies that are contributing to our expanding economy. Thirteen winners were selected from approximately 100 companies who originally submitted applications and business plans from the Northern, Chicagoland, Central and Southern regions of the state. Finalists will now participate in an intensive six-month program where they will have access to a variety of essential resources and expertise, including a $10,000 grant, to continue to grow their businesses. INNOVATE Illinois is funded by Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns economic development program.

"The INNOVATE Illinois challenge has been enhanced to provide even greater hands-on assistance to these thirteen finalists, which will lead to more successful companies and better jobs statewide. We must continue developing creative ways to nurture our entrepreneurs and small businesses so they can continue thriving, and this important initiative will go a long way to keeping entrepreneurship a vital part of our expanding economy," Gov. Blagojevich said.

Gov. Blagojevich created INNOVATE Illinois, in partnership with the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN), to recognize innovative, high-growth small businesses throughout the state and help them advance their efforts to expand and create more jobs. Thirteen companies were selected this year through a competitive process from four regions: North, Chicagoland, Central and South. Almost 100 applications were received statewide with 27 companies selected for in-person interviews. The program is managed in each region by a designated Entrepreneurship Center, which made the final selections. To be eligible for the program, firms must have introduced an innovative product, service or internal process that solves a market problem or internal inefficiency.

Each of the selected finalist companies will begin an accelerated six-month program that includes mentoring, growth plans, access to sales and capital opportunities, education and peer-to-peer networking. In addition, each participant will receive a $10,000 grant to develop and execute a strategic project and a stipend to travel to three regions throughout the program. INNOVATE Illinois is being administered in collaboration with the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which is serving as both the Chicago region and statewide host. Other regional hosts include the Rock River Valley E-Center at the EIGERlab in Rockford for the Northern region; the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University in Peoria for the Central region; and the Southern Illinois E-Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for the Southern region.

The INNOVATE Illinois 2007 winners are:

Company Name	Location/Region	Contact	Company Summary
Colorlab Cosmetics, Inc.	Rockford/ Northern	Mary Swaab – 815/965.2001	Colorlab Cosmetics creates hand-crafted, custom-blended and fresh-made cosmetics.
K.W. Powell & Associates, Inc.	Rockford/ Northern	Sparky (Kent) Powell – 815/637.8989	K.W. Powell provides a web-based, manufacturing sales enabler product to manufacturers that sell through dealer/distributor networks.
Leading Edge Hydraulics	Rockford/ Northern	Russell Dennis Jr. – 815/316.3502	Leading Edge Hydraulics is a premier manufacturer of hydraulic tube assemblies and fittings to the off-highway & mobile hydraulics industry.
BrightStar Franchising, LLC	Chicago	Shelly Sun – 847/828.0126	BrightStar Franchising keeps parents and grandparents out of nursing homes and in their own homes by providing a full range of medical and non-medical services.
ClaimForce, Inc.	Warrenville/ Chicago	Stephen Applebaum – 847/580.4262	ClaimForce is a service chain technology company that enables insurance claim professionals to streamline the claims service process.
GoPicnic, Inc.	Chicago	Julia Stamberger – 773/426.7007	GoPicnic provides a unique and innovative foodservice option to a variety of industries, including airlines, hotels and elementary/high school fundraising.
Neat-Oh! International, LLC	Northfield/ Chicago	Gerry Linda – 847/441.4290	Neat-Oh! International, which launched its first product ZipBin, is focused on rapidly developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling products that make it fun to be neat.
Professional Swine Management, LLC	Carthage/ Central	Ken Haas – 217/357.2811	Professional Swine Management, LLC provides management on all phases of production, including breeding, gestation, farrowing, nursery, finishing and project development to swine producers.
R Cubed Technologies	Galesburg/ Central	Ed Rockhold – 309/342.8233 ex. 100	R Cubed Technologies is a full service technology company providing Information Technology products and services.
Vision Technology, Inc.	Champaign/ Central	Narendra Ahuja – 217/369.3898	Vision Technology develops new types of cameras, usually with previously unavailable features.
Arthur Agency, Inc.	Carbondale/ Southern	Jon Greenstreet – 618/534.6550	The Arthur Agency is an interactive advertising agency, which combines all of the traditional advertising services with new media services, like web design, CD-Rom’s, DVD’s and 3-D animation.
Boon-Docks Equipment, Inc.	Herrin/ Southern	Jerry Watkins – 618/925.2117	The Boon-Docks company designs and manufactures farm implement solutions unique to the contractor, landscaper, small farmer and hobbyist.
So iLL, Inc.	Desoto/ Southern	Daniel Chancellor – 618/420.9388	So iLL, Inc. is a manufacturing company that produces a line of indoor and outdoor rock climbing hand and foot grips for artificial rock climbing walls.

Finalists were selected by a panel of judges from each of the regional offices based on the strength of their business and the potential economic impact of their innovation. Four companies were selected in the Chicago region as a result of a tie. For more information on the program, please visit www.INNOVATEIllinois.org.

Semifinalist companies included: ForceLogix LLC (Libertyville), Inclusion Solutions LLC (Chicago), Gaga’s, LLC (Chicago), Optimum Card Solutions LLC (Addison), HumanZyme Inc. (Chicago), Universal Die Cast, Inc. (Machesney Park), The Herb Cellar (Sterling), ATRONA Material Testing Laboratories, Inc. (Machesney Park), Didoughs Twisted Pretzel Company (Peru), The Creative Frontier, Inc. (Galena), Student Adventure Travel (Dallas City), BAS Holding LLC (Harristown), Clipius Technologies, Inc. (Murphysboro) and Mt. Vernon. Net, Inc. (Mt. Vernon).

"Entrepreneurs are Illinois’ greatest engine of economic growth, and, by recognizing and supporting their tremendous influence on the state’s economy, we will continue to help create better jobs for more people. Gov. Blagojevich and I are thrilled to announce the finalists for this year’s enhanced INNOVATE Illinois program, which will provide a unique opportunity for small firms from across the state to develop into greater market successes," said DCEO Director Jack Lavin.

"To succeed in today’s fast-paced and competitive global economy, entrepreneurs and small businesses not only must have innovative ideas, strategic business plans, and solid financial backing, but also the support of the business community. INNOVATE Illinois is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their most innovative products, services or processes and to have access to a variety of tools to take them to the next level. The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center is excited to be part of Gov. Blagojevich’s important initiative that will help Illinois businesses achieve greater growth and development through innovation," said David Weinstein, President of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.

Gov. Blagojevich combined all of the small business services under an integrated system, known as the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN), to strengthen the state’s capacity to develop small businesses into market successes and help entrepreneurship act as a more dynamic engine of growth. IEN partners, which offer varying levels of expertise and access to services, include: Entrepreneurship Centers, Small Business Development Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, International Trade Centers, NAFTA Opportunity Centers, Manufacturing Extension Centers and Illinois Technology Enterprise Centers. Gov. Blagojevich launched the IEN Web site, www.ienconnect.com, which features a free business needs assessment and a referral within 24 hours for personalized, face-to-face assistance. Entrepreneurs can also call toll-free 1-800-252-2923.

Over the past four years, through the IEN, the Governor has invested nearly $47 million that has helped small companies generate almost $2.56 billion in government contracts and international sales and secure more than $525 million in financing. The Network has provided counseling and training to more than 160,500 clients across the state. The 18 Entrepreneurship Centers statewide, which make up one vital component of the IEN, provide expertise and grant funding to assist entrepreneurs or small businesses with obtaining professional services for comprehensive business plan assistance, evaluation of a proposed start-up or expansion or other accelerated support purposes. The E-Centers have awarded more than $2.4 million in matching challenge grants to 446 companies, which has leveraged another $267 million in investments.

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) is a nonprofit affiliate of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce that seeks to make a perceptible and lasting economic impact on the Chicagoland region by helping entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses build viable, sustainable, and profitable enterprises. The CEC works with entrepreneurs to create and sustain opportunities for business success, job growth, and profitability.