State to reward innovative small businesses

The state of Illinois is seeking small business owners to compete in its annual Innovate Illinois awards competition, which recognizes innovative, high-growth companies statewide, and assists them in efforts to expand their companies and create more jobs.

Twelve winners will be selected in the competition to receive $10,000 grants each and assistance in developing and executing a strategic project. The winners will be admitted into an accelerated six-month program to include mentoring, help in developing growth plans, access to sales and funding opportunities, education and peer-to-peer networking.

Eligible companies must have introduced an innovative product, service or internal process that solves a market problem or addresses internal inefficiency. Finalists will be chosen based on the strength of their business and the potential economic impact of their innovation.

Innovate Illinois is administered in collaboration with the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. It is funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Preliminary applications are due April 23. For more information, visit www.InnovateIllinois.org

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