2007 Coverage
Nominations sought for 2007 Innovation Awards
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The sixth annual Chicago Innovation Award program is seeking innovative ideas to honor this fall.
If your business or organization has introduced a new product or service during the two years and has rung up revenues -- but not necessarily profits -- it's probably a candidate for one of 10 Chicago Innovation Awards.
Shining spotlight on ideas
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If you have a good idea, we'd like to hear about it -- and tell millions of people about it, too.
The sixth annual Chicago Innovation Award program opened for nominations today.
Founded by the Chicago Sun-Times and Kuczmarski & Associates, the Chicago Innovation Award program salutes innovation in products and services developed by Chicago-area businesses and institutions.
Since the Innovation Award made its debut five years ago, 50 companies ranging from high-tech to no-tech and from Fortune 500 members to mom-and-pop operations have been honored at a special presentation in October.
After meeting with the 2005 honorees in his office last year, Mayor Richard Daley said, "The awards highlight the importance of innovation in keeping our region one of the most diverse and progressive economies in the world."
This year's presentation will be held at the Goodman Theatre on Oct. 22, and the honorees will be profiled in a special section of the Sun-Times and featured on WBBM-AM Newsradio 780.
State to reward innovative small businesses
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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.