FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 2011

For Additional Information Contact:

Gregory (Greg) Tomsic, Chairman, 319-329-8431
SCORE East Central Iowa (Benton, Cedar, Jones, Linn)

East Central Iowa Chapter of SCORE, Named Best Chapter in U.S., Gives Awards and Grant

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – SCORE East Central Iowa, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa earned the highly-recognized National SCORE Chapter of the Year Award due to their excellent client satisfaction, exceptional growth in serving entrepreneurs, and successful community outreach.

SCORE is a FREE mentoring service for new, emerging, as well as established small businesses across the U.S. The East Central Iowa Chapter joined with the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce to create the “Business Long Term Recovery Program”, now a national model for business Disaster Recovery and Revitalization. This program provides face-to-face, hands on assistance to the hundreds of small businesses affected by the disastrous floods that struck in 2008.

SCORE CEO Ken Yancey says, “The SCORE East Central Iowa chapter has made a significant impact on the success of the small businesses in their area's communities. Through the hard work of each individual volunteer, small business owners were able to achieve their goals to start up, grow and create jobs.”

SEE SCORE NATL Press Release 
SEE SBA NATL Press Release
THE VIDEO - WHY #1

In celebration of some of the outstanding clients of SCORE, Three Eastern Iowa (3) entrepreneurs will be recognized at the third annual SCORE ONE™ Awards ceremony on June 1st. The event will feature master of ceremonies, Dee Baird, from Priority One and the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and Greg Tomsic from SCORE. The awards are being announced coincident with the nation's Small Business Week celebration May 16-20, 2011.

The small business award winners are SCORE mentored or assisted enterprises which have distinguished themselves. They are considered SCORE's best “Success Stories” of the year.

• “SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR” will be presented to Juli Hardin owner of Jules Bakery in Marion, IA.
• “MOST SPIRITED FLOOD RECOVERY” will be presented to Mark and Shannon Debner, President and Vice President of DPI – Quality Custom Finishes of Cedar Rapids, IA.
• “MOST PROMISING NEW ENTREPRENEUR” award will be presented to Mario Ruiz owner of CReations, of Cedar Rapids, IA.

Amy Grotewold of Black Bull LLC, home of Toro Negro Café, will be awarded the “SCORE EMERGING BUSINESS GRANT” as a promising small business. This is a new grant available to a SCORE client as they assemble their business plan within a SCORE class called, “Simple Steps.”

Also, the “MEDIA CHAMPION AWARD” will be presented to the Cedar Rapids Gazette for its support of small business news.

For more information this week's local small business week events, visit scorecrnews.org/news/sbw/

About SCORE East Central Iowa

Since 1966, SCORE East Central Iowa—also known as America's Small Business Mentors--has helped more than 14,000 aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling and business workshops. SCORE East Central Iowa provides about 900 business assists per year in the four counties it serves: Benton, Cedar, Jones and Linn. More than 60 local volunteer business coaches assist through entrepreneur education dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses. SCORE consulting is provided at no cost. Nationally SCORE has assisted over 9 million since 1964. SCORE East Central Iowa is ranked 10th of 360 chapters in America is service to the public.

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2011 WINNER STORIES AND DETAILS

NATIONAL PRESS RELEASE ON SCORE East Central Iowa WIN

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