Classes and Events
City of Chicago Business Plan Competition
March 8 - April 5, 2010
Do You Have a Great Business Idea? We
Want To Hear It!
The Chicago
City Treasurer's Office is proud to announce the launch of the annual Business
Plan Competition. The competition is open to start-up and existing small
businesses throughout the city.
UIC's
Center for Urban Business will present three workshops to coach participants for
the competition. Register for the workshops at Workshops
and Events
Ten
finalists will then be selected to submit a full business plan. Three winners
will be selected based on their ability to clearly and concisely articulate
their business idea, the creativity and practicability of their marketing and
sales strategy, and the overall viability of their business. The winners will be
announced on July 16 at the Chicago City Treasurer's Small Business Expo. In
addition, the winners present their winning business plans at the Expo.
First Place
Winner - $5,000 * Second Place Winner - $3,500 * Third Place Winner - $1,500
Competition
Rules:
- Business can be a
start-up venture or an existing business. Existing businesses should not be in
business more than 3 years and should have revenues below $2 million.
- All businesses must
be located or plan to be located in the City of
Chicago.
- The following
businesses are not considered eligible for the competition: Tobacco production,
Hard liquor production, Casinos or other gamble ventures, Fur production,
Currency speculation, Securities investment, Speculative industries, Adult
entertainment related industries.
For a complete set of rules please
visit www.chiventures.org/initiatives/busp
lancomp/index.shtml or e-mail businessplans@cityofchicago.org
Important
2010 Dates:
- Wed. March 3, 6 8
p.m.: Business Planning Workshop at Chicago Community Ventures, 105 W. Adams St.
Suite 2300
- Wed. March 10, 6 8
p.m.: Business Planning Workshop, at Chatham Business Association, 7801 S. State
Street
- Wed. March 17, 6 8
p.m.: Business Planning Workshop at Chicago Community Ventures, 105 W Adams St,
Suite 2300
- Wed. March 24, 6 8
p.m.: Business Planning Workshop, at Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, 300 N.
Central Park
- Mon. April 5:
Executive summaries submissions due (by 5 p.m.)
- Mon. May 10: 10
finalists announced
- Mon. March 31:
Finalists business plans due (by 5 p.m.)
- Fri. July 16:
Winners announced at Small Business Expo at UIC Forum
To enter, submit the two-page executive summary on the
Official Competition Template to
businessplans@cityofchicago.org by April 5, 2010. Templates are available at
www.chiventures.org
or by e-mailing businessplans@cityofchicago.org.
For more information or with questions call Chicago Community Ventures at
312.960.0320.