March 9, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

E-WEBSMART TO RECEIVE $5,000 ILLINOIS CHALLENGE GRANT
Founder Michelle Tjelmeland to Receive Illinois Entrepreneurship Network Grant 

DECATUR, Ill. – The Springfield company, e-websmart, a nationally recognized award winning full service web site design firm, has been announced to be the next recipient to receive an Illinois Entrepreneurship Network Challenge Grant for $5000.00 from the Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network. The company exemplifies the high standard of work that is necessary to receive the prestigious grant funding. 

The Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network (MREN) leverages resources available in the marketplace to promote the entrepreneurial development of high-growth-potential businesses. The MREN works with entrepreneurs and businesses (regardless of industry or stage) that demonstrate the ability to achieve growth through revenue generation and job creation and to contribute to the economic development of Illinois.  

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. 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.

Since 1999, e-websmart has had only one mission: to provide reliable Web services with a distinctive flair. There is no doubt that the team at e-websmart has been successful in this primary goal. Their clients range from the small mom & pop shops to multi-million dollar corporations all around the country. 

Michelle’s efforts and the contribution of e-websmart to the field of Web design and to the community where the company is located have been applauded through numerous awards and nominations, including:  

• 1st place winner in the national Microsoft "Start Something Amazing" Campaign in the culture and community category, November 2005.
• “National Inspirational Deaf Person of the Year Award” by Oticon, February 2005
• “Small Business Owner of the Year” by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, June 2003
• “Gold Award” by the World Wide Web Awards Association, July 2003
• “Golden Web Award” by the International Association of Web Masters and ah-ha.com, February 2003

For more information concerning E-Websmart please visit their website at www.e-websmart.com. For more information about Michelle Tjelmeland, please visit www.ciafonline.org (The Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation).

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