This visit is a continuation of the Administrator’s nationwide SBA Ignite Tour dedicated to highlighting SBA programs that help entrepreneurs start businesses, grow their companies, and create jobs in the local community.
We highlighted small businesses in our community, including Serionix, AirScout, Petronics, and Reconstruct – all located in EnterpriseWorks at University of Illinois Research Park.
In addition to showcasing small businesses, we also talked about our local entrepreneurial ecosystem and the services / programs we have in place to help small businesses succeed, including services through the SBDC / International Trade Center and programs like University of Illinois Research Park’s Shared Services Program and the City of Champaign’s Small Business Incentive Program.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration: The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Today we hosted JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton in Champaign-Urbana to showcase our community & meet local employers. We heard from many about why they choose our community – low cost of living, great companies to work for, access to talent, no traffic.
Cathy Singer, VP Engineering, gave us a tour of Oath, the largest employer in University of Illinois Research Park. They are a Hadoop Center of Excellence & lead data projects for the company. Employees were happy to share their love for #chambana, one moving here from CA for better quality of life.
Next stop was Granular in their beautiful space (with live plant walls!). Landon Frye, Business Development, & team shared history of company & why #chambana – it’s the place where technology & ag thrive together. Many employees grew up on farms & went to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Heard from Ben, COO of EarthSense, about their advanced machine-learning and robotics products to manage urgent threats to agriculture. Their TerraSentia robot is currently being used by leading crop breeders & plant scientists.
Ron van Os, CEO of Inprentus Inc., shared their history, including growth from EnterpriseWorks into new location in Champaign. Provider of ultra-high precision optical components (diffraction gratings). The company was founded in 2012 by UIUC Professor Peter Abbamonte.
The LifeFoundry team shared their startup story which began in 2017. Company applies robotics, synthetic biology, & machine learning to accelerate the R&D of biotechnology. Since start, have grown to about 15 employees.They are located in EnterpriseWorks.
Ryan & Ryan at PhotoniCare, founded in 2013, shared their mission to revolutionize healthcare by providing physicians with better diagnostic tools. Complete with demo, showcased technology focused on ear infections – focuses on diagnosis, treatment & monitoring.
Lori, CEO of Pixo, shared company start & success in attracting talent. Located in Urbana, they have only ever needed to recruit two people outside of #chambana in 20 years. Here because: talent, cost of doing business, and culture of community/region.
CHAMPAIGN, IL, March 30, 2018 – Over 300 people gathered at Parkland College for the 13th Annual Innovation Celebration on the evening of Thursday, March 29th to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions, taken risks, and provided leadership to ensure the continuing economic success of Champaign County, the ongoing success of the University’s economic development mission, and the growth of entrepreneurial talent and energy in our community.
Innovation Celebration is not merely an award for accomplishment, but a benchmark of success for those outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations who are nominated and selected to receive this prestigious award.
Innovation Celebration is hosted by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the University of Illinois, Parkland College, and community sponsors. For more information, visit www.innovationcelebration.com.
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Social Venture Award Serve as change agents by creating and implementing sustainable solutions to reshape society, benefit humanity, and address social concerns.
Salt & Light
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup Award Formed by students in the last three years and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.
Mesh++
Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award Formed in the last three years, and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.
SNOOZ
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Paul Magelli Advocacy Award Actively engage, encourage, coach and mentor entrepreneurs in the community, and provide extensive support to help them achieve success.
Stephanie Larson
Carly McCrory
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award Demonstrates expertise in assembling resources, creating an organization, and working to build and implement effective action plans.
Cindy Somers – Spherion Staffing
Innovation: Economic Development Impact Award Has made a significant economic development impact in the community and continues to demonstrate their commitment to Champaign County.
Busey
2018 Innovation Transfer Award—University of Illinois Recognizes an individual or group from the University of Illinois whose research has resulted in either a discovery or a work with the potential for significant societal impact.
Dr. Donna Cox – Advanced Visualization Lab at National Center for Supercomputing Applications
2018 Alexis Wernsing Innovation Award—University of Illinois Recognizes an individual or team from the University of Illinois that has channeled their experience living with a disability into positive change through the creation of new products, environments, or protocols that enhance quality of life.
Mark McCarthy – Access Illinois
2018 Innovation in Engagement Award—Parkland College Recognizes an individual or group at Parkland College who has shown support of the college’s community engagement mission.
Adam Porter – Perimeter Road Sound Recordings
The EDC was pleased to work with the following sponsors of our 13th annual Innovation Celebration: the University of Illinois’ Technology Entrepreneur Center, Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, and Office of Technology Management, along with Parkland College, Lodgic Everyday Community, Carle, Serra Ventures, Surface 51, Singleton Law Firm, City of Champaign, Ramshaw Real Estate, Litania Sports Group, Pixo, Hatch Ag Group, IllinoisVENTURES, Huawei R&D USA, Aqueous Solutions LLC, Personify, AARP, Hanson Financial, Community Solutions Incubator at the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, II-VI EpiWorks, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, and Busey.
CHAMPAIGN, IL, February 23, 2018 – The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce finalists for the 13th Annual Innovation Celebration in recognition of those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions, taken risks, and provided leadership to ensure the continuing economic success of Champaign County, the ongoing success of the University’s economic development mission, and the growth of entrepreneurial talent and energy in our community.
Innovation Celebration is not merely an award for accomplishment, but a benchmark of success for those outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations who are nominated and selected to receive this prestigious award. Additionally, Innovation Celebration serves as a tangible collaboration between the Champaign County EDC, University of Illinois, Parkland College, and the community.
The winner of each award category will be announced at Innovation Celebration 2018, held at Parkland College on Thursday, March 29, 2018 from 5:30 – 8:30 pm. To RSVP and learn more about the event, visit www.innovationcelebration.com.
Award Finalists
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Social Venture Award Serve as change agents by creating and implementing sustainable solutions to reshape society, benefit humanity, and address social concerns.
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup Award Formed by students in the last three years and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.
Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award Formed in the last three years, and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Advocacy Award Actively engage, encourage, coach and mentor entrepreneurs in the community, and provide extensive support to help them achieve success.
Ken Taylor
Stephanie Larson
Kathie Cravens
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award Demonstrates expertise in assembling resources, creating an organization, and working to build and implement effective action plans.
Innovation: Economic Development Impact Award Has made a significant economic development impact in the community and continues to demonstrate their commitment to Champaign County.
2018 Innovation Transfer Award—University of Illinois Recognizes an individual or group from the University of Illinois whose research has resulted in either a discovery or a work with the potential for significant societal impact.
2018 Alexis Wernsing Innovation Award—University of Illinois Recognizes an individual or team from the University of Illinois that has channeled their experience living with a disability into positive change through the creation of new products, environments, or protocols that enhance quality of life.
2018 Innovation in Engagement Award—Parkland College Recognizes an individual or group at Parkland College who has shown support of the college’s community engagement mission.
The EDC is pleased to work with the following sponsors of our 13th Annual Innovation Celebration: the University of Illinois’ Technology Entrepreneur Center, Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, and Office of Technology Management, along with Parkland College, Lodgic, Carle, Serra Ventures, Surface 51, Singleton Law Firm, City of Champaign, Ramshaw Real Estate, Litania Sports Group, Pixo, Hatch Ag Group, IllinoisVENTURES, Huawei R&D USA, Aqueous Solutions LLC, Personify, AARP, Hanson Financial, Community Solutions Incubator at the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, II-VI EpiWorks, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, and Busey.
Champaign County, home to the University of Illinois, features world-class technological resources and superb location and transportation benefits that make it a strategic hub for technology and industrial development.
Founded in 1991, Taylor Studios, Inc. began as a mail-order business creating museum-quality artifacts, fossil reproductions, and exhibits for museums and other clients. Quickly recognized for the passion and expertise brought to each project, the company initially carved out a niche in the paleontology, archaeology, and natural history fields. Today, Taylor Studios is recognized as an industry leader in exhibit planning, design, fabrication, and installation, serving a diversity of clients throughout the country and internationally. Their 3D storytelling now reaches beyond natural history to cultural history, history walls, and immersive environments of all kinds. Read More »
Frasca International manufactures flight simulators for all aircraft types, fixed and rotary wing, used for pilot training for airlines, flight schools, colleges and universities, military, law enforcement, air evac and commercial organizations. Since its founding in 1958, over 3,000 Frasca simulators have been delivered worldwide. Read More »
