GOV. BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCES $250,000 IN NEW FUNDING TO CONTINUE HELPING ENTREPRENEURS GROW THEIR BUSINESSES, CREATE MORE JOBS ACROSS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity issued the following news release:

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's top economic development official visited the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center (SIEC) today to announce $250,000 in new funding and to highlight the Center's work to help local entrepreneurs and their promising ventures develop into successes in the marketplace.

"By bringing in new companies, making strategic investments to help small businesses grow and taking innovative steps to open new markets, we are offering more people better jobs across Southern Illinois. One of the most important ways we have been expanding our economy over the last several years is by encouraging entrepreneurship. The Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center is helping us turn promising ideas into promising companies that are putting more people to work," Gov. Blagojevich said.

The SIEC has received more than $1 million to act as a regional hub to coordinate all small business development, entrepreneurship training and development activity in Southern Illinois since 2003.

The SIEC is one of 19 entrepreneurship centers Gov. Blagojevich has opened. The entrepreneurship centers make up one vital component of the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network (IEN), a comprehensive network of resources designed to strengthen the state's capacity to develop small businesses into market successes and help entrepreneurship act as a more dynamic engine of growth. Gov. Blagojevich launched the IEN Web site, www.ienconnect.com, which features a free business needs assessment and a referral within 24 hours for personalized, face-to-face assistance. Entrepreneurs can also call toll-free 1-800-252-2923.

The SIEC offers challenge grants and a number of other specialized resources for its clients. The $5,000 awards assist entrepreneurs or small businesses with obtaining professional services for comprehensive business plan assistance, evaluation of a proposed start-up or expansion or other accelerated support purposes. Award funding is determined based on the potential for successful achievement of a significant business milestone for client firms. The SIEC has awarded 53 challenge grants awards to date totaling $172,500.

"The Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center has proven to be a tremendous resource to help small businesses get ahead, and I am thrilled that we are a part of this network to increase opportunities for our hardworking men and women in the region. Through Gov. Blagojevich's support, we will continue investing in small businesses and budding entrepreneurs, both of which are tremendously important to growing our local economy and creating more jobs," Southern Illinois University President Dr. Glenn Poshard said.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Lavin highlighted some of the successes of the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center:

Discover Places is a Carbondale-based business that delivers community focused web services through a community portal. The company has developed and market-tested a "turn-key" community portal system and business model that provides a complete Web gateway for a community or region. Discover Places recently expanded its business by opening a new location in the Small Business Incubator in Carbondale and is ramping up operations to become the premier national community portal platform. The SIEC has provided continued support and technical assistance to the company, both with its relocation and direct assistance in securing an equity investment. Discover Places received a $5,000 challenge grant in April of 2006 and an additional $2,500 for its second place finish in the southern regional competition for Innovate Illinois. As a result of the company's relocation, it has been able to create 4 new jobs. Contact: Jim Zimmerman, President - 618/534.2102.

DxR Development Group, Inc. is a tech-based company in Carbondale specializing in a patient simulation software program called Diagnostic Reasoning, which is designed to provide medical students with the ability to practice the patient encounter. The company recently moved from the Small Business Incubator to the new building in the Southern Illinois Research Park and negotiated a contract with the National League for Nursing, based in New York, which will significantly expand its operation in Southern Illinois and allow the company to create 5 new jobs. The SIEC has provided the company with continued support and guidance throughout its relocation and negotiation with the National League for Nursing, and provided a $5,000 challenge grant as a result of its first place finish in the southern regional competition for Innovate Illinois. The e-center continues to advise the company regularly regarding its growth strategy and business model, particularly as it evaluates penetration into new international markets. Contact: Hurly Myers, President and CEO - 618/453.1140

Liquid Potions, LLC, is a new business based in Marion, formed by two Southern Illinois pharmacists, Erik Cornett and Gerad Harsy, who have formulated and are launching several nutrient-based drinks. The initial product launch is for an alternative energy drink, complete with antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins and herbs. The company received a $5,000 challenge grant to leverage with its own investment to build an elaborate marketing and distribution network for its products. Last year alone, the energy drink market reached an astounding $3.4 billion in sales. Co-owner Erik Cornett, a serial entrepreneur, also received previous challenge grant funding for another business he co-owns, NaturalMed Herbals. This company specializes in herbal remedy products through eCommerce sales at www.naturalmedherbals.com. Contact: Erik Cornett, Co-owner - 618/922.8443.

"The Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center has played a critical role in helping young firms with high growth potential develop into economically viable and sustainable companies that will grow and create Southern Illinois jobs. We've done our homework in studying the strengths and challenges of growing a small business, and this center is designed to offer targeted services most in need by local entrepreneurs, including access to capital, markets, networks and technology," DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

Gov. Blagojevich recently announced that Illinois added more new jobs than any other state in July. In July, Illinois led the nation in monthly job growth by creating 31,100 new jobs. This is the second time this year Illinois has created more new jobs than any other state, which has never happened before in recorded history. Illinois also led the nation in job growth in April. The total number of new jobs created this year is 76,400, which is the best start to a year since 1998, best in the Midwest and fifth in the nation. Since January 2004, Illinois has gained more than 151,000 new jobs, which is also best in the Midwest. The nineteen county Southern Illinois Opportunity Returns region has added almost 18,000 new jobs since January 2004.

The Illinois unemployment rate has dropped from 6.7 percent in January 2003 to 4.4 percent, which is its lowest level since October 2000. It has remained at or below the national rate for five consecutive months, which is the first time this has happened in seven years. The state has dropped below the national unemployment rate for the third time this year, which is the first time this has occurred in eight years. The unemployment rate in the nineteen county Southern Illinois Opportunity Returns region has dropped 2.7 percent from January 2004. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security compiled these statistics.

Site Selection Magazine also ranked Illinois third in the nation for attracting new and expanded corporate facilities in 2005, and Business Facilities Magazine named Illinois the top state for biotech growth last year.

Contact: Abby Ottenhoff, 312/814-3158; Rebecca Rausch, 217/782-7355; Gerardo Cardenas, 312/814-3158; Andrew Ross, 312/814-8193.