Description

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee County and its community partners proudly announce the return of Kankakee County’s most popular, most effective, and most fun small business development program!

From March - June 2015, our EnterpriseU Entrepreneurs Boot Camp & Business Plan Competition contestants will learn business plan fundamentals, attend an outstanding coursework series crafted by KCC’s Small Business Development Center, attend networking events featuring inspiring local entrepreneurs and business leaders and more ... all in an effort to secure one of three valuable startup prize packages and “Make Their Mark” by launching their small business in Kankakee County!

Applications and $50 fee for this exciting program are due by Friday, March 20. New or expanding businesses - as well as businesses that have been open for less than one year - are welcome to participate in the 2-month EnterpriseU Entrepreneurs Boot Camp. Semi-finalists will be selected on Friday, May 29, with semi-finalists making brief oral presentations on Thursday, June 11 that clearly articulate their business idea, their marketing and sales strategy, and the overall viability of their business.

Contestant Benefits:

• Business Boot Camp through KCC
• One-on-one mentoring
• Access to special networking events and educational speakers
• Prize package eligibility

Program Orientation 5:30-6:30pm Monday, March 23 at the KCC North Extension in Bradley. If you are unable to attend please contact us.

Classes (“Boot Camp”) every Thursday @KCC:

Class:	Date:	Time:
Pre Business Workshop	3/26/15	6-8 p.m.
Small Business Record Keeping	3/30/15	7-9 p.m.
Writing a Successful Business Plan	4/8/15	5-7 p.m.
Email Marketing for Business	4/22/15	1-3 p.m.
Social Media Marketing 101	4/22/15	3-5 p.m.
How to Apply for a Small Business Loan	4/29/15	6-8 p.m.

All classes will be held at the Kankakee Community College North Extension Center. Although classes are free of charge, please call Grace Conway at 815-802-8207 to register. You must inform her that you are a contestant in the EnterpriseU competition. Any questions, please call Ken Crite at 815-802-8222.

Prize Packages:

1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place
$2,000 startup capital	$1,500 startup capital	$1,000 startup capital
6 months rent-free office space	6 months rent-free office space	6 months rent-free office space
$1,500 worth of Daily Journal ad space	$750 worth of Daily Journal ad space	$500 worth of Daily Journal ad space
Business cards	Business cards	Business cards
Professional portraits	Professional portraits	Professional portraits
$600 worth of media services	$300 worth of media services	$200 worth of media services
Video promotion workshop/consultation	Video promotion workshop/consultation	Video promotion workshop/consultation
8 hours of accounting, tax and business consultation	4 hours of accounting, tax and business consultation	2 hours of accounting, tax and business consultation
3 hrs of hardware/software technical services & 1 hr of technical consultation	2 hrs of hardware/software technical services & 1 hr of technical consultation	1 hr of hardware/software technical services & 1 hr of technical consultation

Dates to Note:

March 4 - Public Info Session: 6 p.m. @ Kankakee Public Library, 4th Floor

March 20 - Application Due Date

March 23 - Contestant Orientation: 5:30-6:30 p.m. @KCC North Extension, Bradley

TBD April - Catalyst Innovation Center contestant preview event - "Maker" documentary film presentation (public)

May 6 - Business After Hours with EnterpriseU All Star panel: 5:30 p.m. @KCC North Extension, Bradley

May 22 - Business Plans Due

May 29 - Finalists Announced

June 11 - Final Presentations & Winners Announced @Kankakee Public Library

Contact Us:

For additional inquiries, please contact either:

Ken Crite, Coordinator	Lisa Wogan, Director of Marketing & Business Attraction
Illinois Small Business Development Center at Kankakee Community College	Economic Alliance of Kankakee County
450 North Kinzie Avenue Bradley, Illinois 60915	200 East Court St., Suite 507 Kankakee, IL 60901
Certified GrowthWheel Business Advisor
kcrite@kcc.edu	lwogan@kankakeecountyed.org www.kankakeecountyed.org
(815) 802-8222 Fax (815) 802-8201	O: (815) 935-1177 M: (815) 355-4159

Visit our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EnterpriseUKankakeeCounty