Award Program

The Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network, with financial support from DCEO, administers a matching award program targeted to high growth companies in the ten county areas in Central Illinois . The counties include Cass, Christian, Logan , Menard, Macon , Sangamon, Morgan, Scott, Greene, Macoupin, Montgomery , and Shelby . The purpose of the award program is to assist high-growth-potential businesses with obtaining professional services for comprehensive business planning assistance, the evaluation of a proposed start-up or expansion, or other accelerated support services.

Award funding must be used for the successful achievement of a significant business milestone. The maximum funding available for each individual award is $5,000. Recipients are required to provide a cash match of 100 percent of the award amount. 

How to Apply

Award Process

MREN-ECN Award Process

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has established an award program to 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 will be determined based on the potential for successful achievement of a significant business milestone for client firms.

Award applicants must meet the requirements listed to be an eligible MREN client.

Eligible uses of funds include:

• The provision or acquisition of professional services for:
• Legal services for:
• Obtaining patents, copyrights, or trademarks
• Evaluation of contractual agreements and documentation
• Comprehensive business planning assistance
• Successful achievement of a significant business milestone
• Overall business strategy
• Marketing strategies and plans
• Funding strategies
• Management operations and budgeting
• Other specialized or accelerated services deemed critical to the successful achievement of a significant business milestone

Ineligible uses of award funding include:

• Legal costs associated with establishing or incorporating a business
• Architectural, engineering, and design costs
• Rental or purchase of land or buildings or any improvements or furnishings to land or buildings
• Business valuation or appraisal fees
• Software or equipment purchases
• Loan application/origination fees
• Maximum funding per award is up to $5000 of eligible project costs. Applicants are required to provide a cash match of 100% of the award amount. Applications will be awarded based on their display of project viability, growth potential, public purpose, or other merit-based factors.
• The following file includes the award application and further application information. If needed, you can receive assistance in completing the award application from your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

MREN-ECN Award Application

    HTML : 30kb, opens in new window

    .PDF :    56 kb, opens in new window with Acrobat Reader

    .DOC : 210 kb, Can be edited in Microsoft Word 2000 or newer

    .RTF : 2500 kb, Cross-Platform compatibility

    Please email your completed award application to cbeck@millikin.edu