Make Mine a $Million Race Highlights National Entrepreneurship Week 2009

The greatest inventions start with the simplest ideas – the "Why didn't I think of that?" kind. Great ideas are great ideas – simple or complex – but if no one takes those ideas and runs with them that's all they are – great ideas. Because, as you know, beyond the idea comes the hard part – the "stick-to-it-tive-ness" and good old-fashioned hard work. Long hours, failures and exasperation are commonplace. And it's no secret that times are tough.

However, a difficult economy creates possibilities for entrepreneurs - those individuals who can change gears quickly to adapt and innovate, who can seize a business opportunity and grow it into a successful company. Entrepreneurship is more prevalent than many people realize. Nationally, over six percent of those over 18 years old - or more than 250,000 Wisconsin adults at any one time—are attempting to create new enterprises.

Here in Wisconsin, we can point to some great companies started by an engineer in a garage or at a kitchen table: Harley Davidson, Milwaukee, whose motorcycles set the quality standard around the world; Quad Graphics, Pewaukee, now one of the nation's top printers; Tomotherapy, Madison, whose innovative cancer treatment has helped it grow to 300 employees in less than ten years; St. Croix Rod and Reel, Park Falls, the only fishing-rod firm where engineers and rod designers work side by side.

Just as Wisconsin was in the forefront in hosting the first statewide Make Mine a $Million Business Conference in 2007, we are again in the national spotlight by hosting the Make Mine a $Million Race for women-owned businesses.

Women who enter the Make Mine a $Million Race will have access to experts, resources, and opportunities tailored to their businesses that include:

• Cutting edge on-line business assessment with expert advice and education
• Personalized digital "dashboard" to track the goals and annual revenue
• Social network to connect with thousands of other M3 RACE participants and post question questions
• Invitations to three national educational and networking events
• Opportunities to reach new national markets with partners like Founding Sponsor American Express OPEN, Readers Digest, Dell and Sam's Club
• Promotion through local and national TV, newspaper, magazines, radio and blogs
• Prizes and national recognition for crossing your personal finish line, as well as the chance to win our Grand Prize of $100,000 cash and national advertising and press for their business, and other business-boosting and work-life-balancing prizes.

The Make Mine a $Million Business Race (www.makemineamillion.org) is a program of the non-profit Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence, which was founded by Nell Merlino. Merlino was, the creative force behind the groundbreaking "Take Your Daughters to Work Day" initiative. It is the only national initiative committed to the growth needs of post-start-up, women-owned businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenues. Only 3 percent of the 10.5 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. generate $1 million dollars or more in annual revenue.

The Make Mine a $Million Business Race is the only national initiative committed to the growth needs of post-start-up, women-owned businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenues. On average, women who have participated in the Make Mine a Million $ Business programs have increased their revenue and job growth rate by more than 40 percent within 12 months.

Nell Merlino will join me to officially launch of the Make Mine a Million Race on February 16, 2009 at 8:30 – 9:30, in the first floor conference room at the Department of Commerce. Let's hope for a big return and strong growth from everyone who joins the race. And let's honor all Wisconsin entrepreneurs as we celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week 2009 Anyone thinking of starting a business can access a wide variety of help and services by visiting the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network site at http://wenportal.org/

-- Richard J. Leinenkugel, Secretary