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“Bucks For Bright Ideas”
Earns NADO  2006 Innovation Award

A partnership of BRADD, the Barren River Development Council, the Central Region Inno-vation and Commercialization Center, and entrepreneur David Garvin, has been honored with a 2006 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the "Bucks for Bright Ideas" competition. The Second Annual event is now underway with entries being judged following the September 16th deadline.
NADO, a Washington, D.C. based public interest group, recognizes organizations for demonstrating innovative approaches to economic and community development. Awardees were showcased during NADO’s Annual Training Conference in August in Reno/Sparks, Nevada.  NADO President Ken Jones, Director of Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council in McAllen, Texas, presented the Award to BRDC Chairman John Raines.

The competition is the creation of the Barren River Development Council, the Central Region Innovation and Commercialization Center, the Barren River Area Development District, and the WKU Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. It is funded by the David Garvin Entrepreneurship Golf Classic, with a goal of creating an entrepreneurship culture.

For 2006, the competition offered a cash prize for the best entry in each county. Workshops explaining the process were offered in each county and brochures explaining rules for entry were available at local Chamber offices, Extension Offices, Public Libraries, and other places.
 
The winners from the ten county competitions competed for a regional prize of $5,000; $1,000 for second place. Those considering offering ideas had an opportunity to learn more at the workshops from Jeff Hook, ICC, and Richie Sanders, BRADD economic development specialist.

The 2005 first prize winner, Timothy Lee Hack, has acquired a building and is starting a business in Butler County. Other winners in the first competition were Vickie and Stephanie Hurley, of Logan County, $2,000; and Billy Joe Pace, Metcalfe County, $1,000. The second and third place winners also have received grants of $25,000 each for developing their ideas. The grants are for patent searches, business plans, or other developmental stages.

The Third Annual David Garvin Entrepreneurship Golf Classic will be held Tuesday, October 3, at Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course near Franklin. The event will raise funds for the event next year.