PIERRE, S.D. – Potential applicants are reminded that the deadline for entries to the 2012 Governor's Giant Vision Business (and Student Business) Competition are due Friday, February 24.  Visit www.southdakotagiantvision.com for more information or to submit entries.

The Governor’s Giant Vision event is hosted by the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry and offers significant prize money.   The Business Competition winner will be awarded $20,000.  The second place award is $5,000, third place is $4,000, 4th place is $3,000, and 5th place is $2,000.  The remaining qualifiers will receive $500 each to help with the expenses of participation. 

This competition is offered to show new entrepreneurs that South Dakota is serious about helping business, creating opportunities and proving to young people that they can have any future they desire right here at home. 

In addition to cash awards, the competition will bring people with new business ideas together with judges and other invited guests who have business development experience and several who have a capacity to make venture investments. 

Sponsors for Giant Vision are Governor Dennis Daugaard, Avera McKennan, Sioux Falls; Black Hills Corp., Rapid City; Christiansen Land & Cattle Ltd., Kimball; Dacotah Banks, Aberdeen; Daktronics, Inc., Brookings; Home Federal Bank, Sioux Falls; South Dakota EPSCoR, Brookings; Toshiba America, Mitchell; US Bank, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Rapid City; and Wheeler Manufacturing, Lemmon, 

Those entering the Governor's Giant Vision competition will submit a business plan through the website www.southdakotagiantvision.com.  The competition is open to all South Dakotans.  The judges give heavier weight to business opportunities that would advance South Dakota employment or the South Dakota business base.  The competition is open to entrepreneurs with new ideas that they believe would benefit from the review and analysis process of the competition.  Existing companies must be a South Dakota company and may only have been in business three years or less AND with annual revenue not to exceed $250,000. 

Previous winners may not apply again for the same idea.  The focus of this program is on the business plan or business model and is not limited to technology entries. 

The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also hosting the sixth annual Governor’s Giant Vision Student Competition.  South Dakota college, university and technical school traditional students are encouraged to apply.  The winner will be awarded $5,000, with a second place prize being $3,000, third place $2,500 and fourth place $2,000.  The remaining qualifiers will receive $500 each to assist with the costs of competing.   

The student competition is underwritten by Governor Dennis Daugaard and Citibank of Sioux Falls.

Applications must be submitted by 11:55 pm, Friday, February 24, 2012.  The final competition and awards event will be held Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at the Ramkota in Sioux Falls.  www.southdakotagiantvision.com

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SD Chamber of Commerce & Industry

PO Box 190

Pierre, SD  57501

605-224-6161