Companies Will Compete For Up To $10,000 in Challenge Grants Awards

CHICAGO - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, along with the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University and the Center for Entrepreneurship at Millikin University, today announced the start of the Central Illinois Homeland Security Business Competition (CIHSBC), where companies across the North Central, Central and Southeast regions will compete for up to $10,000 in individual awards.  Contest awards will help stimulate innovative business development and support the growth of the homeland security industry throughout the region.  The competition is funded through the Governor’s Illinois Entrepreneurial Network’s (IEN), and presented in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Homeland Security Market Development (HSMD) Bureau and the Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurial Center (HSIEC) at Northwestern University.

“Illinois is leading the nation when it comes to supporting emerging companies working in the homeland security industry,” said Gov. Blagojevich.  “This business plan competition is another creative way to help companies across Central Illinois and beyond bring new products to market that will enhance the production of homeland security goods and services and create more good jobs across the state”

The contest will accelerate innovation in the homeland security industry by attracting businesses across the Central and Southeast Illinois business community to participate in this $45 billion market.  Small or medium-sized companies and entrepreneurs that are or will be engaged in creating homeland security services or products are invited to submit a CIHSBC Challenge Grant application.  The winner(s) of the CIHSBC may use the award to obtain professional services for comprehensive business planning assistance or the successful achievement of a significant business milestone for client firms.

All submissions will be reviewed by Entrepreneurship Center Directors Roger Luman from Bradley University, Connie Beck from Millikin University and Bret Johnson from Northwestern University, who will also determine the number of winners from each region.  This is the third regional homeland security business case competition.

Applications will be accepted until Monday, October 9th.  All contestants are invited to display their presentations to the public at 9am on Wednesday, October 18th at Millikin University, with a press conference announcing the CIHSBC award winner(s) to follow.  Winner(s) will also be invited to apply for an additional award through the
HSMD’s Innovative Product Grant (IPG) program, which provides up to $150,000 in funding (with a dollar-for-dollar private capital match) to directly catalyze the commercialization, improvement and production of goods and services with an application in homeland security and a dual use in another sector.  IPG is the nation’s first state-funded grant program focused on developing products to meet homeland security needs.

“Gov. Blagojevich and I are happy to be working together with Bradley and Millikin Universities on this innovative competition that will help to generate new ideas and businesses that will ultimately create more jobs throughout Illinois.  We encourage entrepreneurs from across Central and Southeast Illinois to submit their business plans, which will cultivate an even stronger homeland security industry,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin. 

For more information about the contest, please contact:

In the North Central region (Peoria, Stark, Fulton, Mason, Marshall, Woodford, Livingston, Mclean, DeWitt and Tazewell counties):  Roger Luman, Managing Director, Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University 309/677.4321.

CIHSBC applications are available online at www.bradley.edu/turnercenter/.  Business ventures located in the North Central region should email their completed applications to Roger Luman at rll@bradley.edu 

In the Central region (Sangamon, Cass, Menard, Logan, Macon, Christian, Shelby, Montgomery, Macoupin, Greene, Scott and Morgan counties) and in the Southeast region (Moultrie, Coles, Edgar, Clark, Cumberland, Effingham, Clay, Fayette, Marion, Richland, Lawrence, Crawford and Japer counties):  Connie Beck, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship at Millikin University 217/424.6267

CIHSBC applications are available online at www.millikinren.com.  Business ventures located in the Central and Southeast regions should email their completed applications to Connie Beck, Director, Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network at cbeck@millikin.edu

DCEO’s Homeland Security Market Development Bureau is focused on supporting businesses engaged in the homeland security industry.  HSMD offers a variety of investment tools designed to help existing Illinois companies expand operations and utilize available state and federal programs and services.  For more information on HSMD and IPG, visit www.hsmd.illinois.gov

Gov. Blagojevich is providing, for the first time, a formalized structure for coordinating services to small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the state through the IEN.  Further, DCEO has a truly statewide network, where the resources in one area (e.g., venture capital in the Chicago area) can be coordinated to the benefit of network partners throughout the state.  The IEN is made up of the following partners: 18 Entrepreneurship Centers, Small Business Development Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, International Trade Centers and other partners.  The IEN Web site, www.ienconnect.com, features a free business needs assessment

and a referral within 24 hours for personalized, face-to-face assistance.  Entrepreneurs, who call toll-free to the IEN information center (1-800-252-2923), can also connect with service representatives who will assess their business concerns and direct them to the local resources that best meets their needs.