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Monday, February 1, 2010
State Selects 20 Small Businesses for Economic Entrepreneurship Awards
INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 6, 2010) - Lt. Governor Becky Skillman joined business leaders from across the state today to present 20 companies with the Indiana Small Business Development Center Network's Economic Development through Growth and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Awards during a Statehouse ceremony.
Sponsored by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation's Small Business Development Centers, the awards recognize clients of the agency's 10 regional centers located throughout the state in two categories - emerging and established.
"We know the foundation of the Indiana economy is built on the ideas of entrepreneurs across the state," said Skillman. "These 20 small businesses have continued to grow and create jobs for Hoosiers despite a very challenging national economy."
Recipients of the award collectively employ more than 350 in Indiana and in total finished 2009 with more than $10 million in sales.
"These awards showcase businesses from a wide range of industries representing all regions of Indiana, not just major metropolitan areas," said Jeff Heinzmann, IEDC's state director of the Indiana Small Business Development Centers. "From Lowell to Scottsburg, Indiana small businesses continue to create new jobs."
More than 115,000 small businesses operate in Indiana, employing nearly half of the state's private sector work force, according to an October 2009 report from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Rick Black first came to the Small Business Development in spring of 2000. At that time, he was considering an entrepreneurial venture, but had not chosen a specific area. Rick attended our Entrepreneurship Academy. As time went by, Rick, and his wife, Kathy began to experiment making wines. Rick has submitted his wines to the Indy International Wine Competition for the past eight years. He won 18 awards at this competition as an amateur including Indiana Amateur Wines Champion.
Now he was off on a new venture. He decided that winemaking would be a great opportunity and began working closely with Purdue's Wine Grape Action Team. He and Kathy started to look for properties that would accommodate this tourist activity only to find that local properties zoned Agricultural had many restrictions that would not allow for group activities, wine tastings, and private parties - the essence of any good winery. Gathering support and advice from the local community including the ISBDC, Rick and Kathy worked closely with the Area Plan Commission to change the zoning regulations that would allow their winery to operate. After two years of hard work, that effort paid off.
In November of 2006, Rick and Kathy made one last attempt to find a location. That's when they found their current facility. They immediately started working with the owner and other landowners to get the winery started. Wildcat Creek Winery did a soft opening in early 2009. In 2009 Rick entered the Indy International Wine Competition as a commercial winemaker and his Lafayette Blush was a silver award winner and Lafayette Red took bronze. The winery is now up and running and is on track to produce 3,000 gallons of in its first year - 2009.
Rick and Kathy Black built this winery with several faithful volunteers who believed this winery could be successful. They also attribute part of their successful launch to the spirit of cooperation of other wineries throughout the state.
Complete List of Award Recipients
Axis Home Health Care (Plainfield) - Emerging Category - Provides health care services for home-bound seniors.
AeroCat LLC (Portland) - Emerging Category - Develops and builds high-performance bicycles.
Wildcat Creek Winery (Lafayette) - Emerging Category - Tippecanoe County's first winery.
USCOMBATGEAR.com LLC (Butler) - Emerging Category - Produces an ammunition magazine well cover that securely protects weaponry when ammunition is removed.
Total Green Energy Solutions (Lowell) - Emerging Category - Former HVAC service provider that has expanded into geothermal solutions, hybrid heating and cooling, energy auditing and solar panels.
Wear to Win (Granger) - Emerging Category - Online provider of women's golf apparel.
ReFrame LLC (Bloomington) - Emerging Category - Environmentally-focused preservation custom framing business.
Stray Light Optical Technologies (Scottsburg) - Emerging Category - Engineering research and development firm in optics, lighting, optical computing, energy storage, thermal design and nano technology industries, among others.
Nichols Fire and Fleet (Evansville) - Emerging Category - Vehicle maintenance provider.
Hallie Hound Barkery (West Terre Haute) - Emerging Category - Maker of homemade dog treats, samplers and gift baskets.
Taste of Indiana (Indianapolis) - Established Category - Gift-basket business supporting more than 100 small, regional Indiana food products companies.
Mosey Manufacturing Co. (Richmond) - Established Category - Automotive parts supplier diversifying into individual mobility products for wheelchair-bound adults.
AndyMark Inc. (Kokomo) - Established Category - Developer and seller of hardware for mobility robotics and truck accessory products.
Visionary Web LLC and Visionary Computers LLC (Wabash) - Established Category - Provider of comprehensive web-related services and technology consulting.
Global Land Surveying (Michigan City) - Established Category - Surveying firm using Global Positioning System technology to provide land surveying and engineering services.
Valley Screen Process Co., Inc. (Mishawaka) - Established Category - Graphic decal supplier for RV and marine industries expanding into children's wall graphics market.
Sherlock Homes Inspection Service Inc. (Bloomington) - Established Category - Home inspection service expanding into energy analysis and retrofitting.
AUTOBEYOURS.com (Scottsburg) - Established Category - Restorer and modifier of Toyota Prius automobiles into vehicles that get 100 miles-per-gallon.
Milestone Investments LLC (Evansville) - Established Category - Distressed property buyer and rehabilitator expanding into general contracting with a focus on design and individual customer service.
Accurate Insulation (West Terre Haute) - Established Category - Commercial and industrial insulation contractor, which is expanding into energy appraisal market.
About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Mitch Roob serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
About the ISBDC
The Indiana Small Business Development Center Network is an Indiana Economic Development Corporation program funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Through 10 regional centers, the ISBDC provides free and low-cost business advising and assistance to small businesses at any stage of development. For more information about the ISBDC, visit www.isbdc.org
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