Make Mine a $Million Business Competition

For Immediate Release: April 11, 2007
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce

MADISON - Wisconsin women-owned businesses still have time to apply for a substantial prize package of business tools to help their ventures grow. The Make Mine a $Million Business awards competition is designed to encourage and assist women grow their businesses to $1 million by providing mentoring, financing, business operations and marketing resources.

"Women business owners in Wisconsin have a unique opportunity to compete for a year-long package of mentoring and coaching by highly successful individuals," says Department of Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke. "I strongly encourage interested women business owners to use these call-in opportunities."

The online application is available at www.makemineamillion.org. The deadline for applications is April 24, 2007.

An Informational conference call is set for Thursday, April 19, 2:00 p.m. central time to assist applicants in completing the form and answering their questions about the program. For call-in information, email info@countmein.org.

Business owners can also contact the program's Wisconsin Coordinator, Julann Jatczak, at julann.jatczak@wwbic.com for assistance in completing their application.

Make Mine a $Million Business is a national initiative to empower 1 million women-owned businesses to reach the $1 million in revenue by 2010. It was launched by Nell Merlino, founder of Count Me In, who spearheaded the "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" campaign. Wisconsin is the first state-based Make Mine a $Million program designed to recognize women in our state.

Fifteen Make Mine a $Million Business award nominees will be selected from applicants statewide and asked to compete at the full-day conference set for May 21, 2007 at the Concourse Hotel in Madison. The Wisconsin nominees will have the opportunity to deliver their business pitches to an audience of entrepreneurs, judges and guests. Eight awardees will be selected and are eligible to receive a robust awards package to support them as they build their businesses to million-dollar enterprises.

The prize package includes:

• OPEN from American Express will offer up to $50,000 in financing, a financial evaluation and visibility in marketing campaigns.
• Count Me In will provide awardees with inspiration, community, financing and mentoring from a "dream" team of coaches and business experts from Count Me In.
• Services and consulting from AIG, and its partners, to help work/life balance, crisis management & small business insurance needs.
• Cisco will offer two awardees a Smart Business Communications package valued up to $20,000.
• FedEx will give discounts on select shipping and office and print services.
• Intuit will provide business and financial management software, training and support.
• QVC will offer a marketing consultation from the experts.
• Local sponsor Foley & Lardner will offer a legal audit on issues of financing intellectual property or employment policies and benefits.
• Marketing & Publicity for the business.
• Access to numerous local business resources.

At the May 21st conference, attendees will have the opportunity to access inspirational and educational programming. In addition to the business presentations by the finalists, the conference will offer a panel of previous award winners talking about their experience, workshops on business-growth issues, an exhibitor area of Wisconsin business resources & national sponsors, a van displaying the latest in technology from Cisco, and keynoter Nell Merlino. The fee is $49 and online registrations are now being taken at www.makemineamillion.org. Women-owned businesses of all sizes are encouraged to attend.

Local Make Mine a $Million Business Wisconsin sponsors include Foley and Lardner, Inacom Information Systems, IBM, Cisco, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation, Ameriprint, EMC, Madison Gas & Electric, In Business, University of Wisconsin Madison, Office Max and others.

For more information visit www.makemineamillion.org or contact the state coordinator, Julann Jatczak at julann.jatczak@wwbic.com or at 608-257-5450.

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