Grand Forks, ND ~ November 1, 2007:  Senator Kent Conrad and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson are calling for nominations for the 2008 Marketplace Entrepreneur of the Year and Entrepreneurial Community of the Year awards.

The annual awards recognize North Dakota entrepreneurs and communities that best foster an entrepreneurial spirit. They will be presented during Marketplace for Entrepreneurs, January 16, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

"We want to honor North Dakota's entrepreneurial leaders. These are people with imagination and ambition who have worked hard to turn their visions into reality," Senator Conrad and Commissioner Johnson said in a joint statement. "Nominees for this award should be successful in business but, most importantly, they must serve as inspirations for today's budding entrepreneurs."

Last year's Entrepreneur of the Year was Jim Laducer, President of Laducer & Associates, a small consulting firm that provides business counsel to minority-owned businesses. Watford City was named Entrepreneurial Community of the Year.

Nomination forms for the Entrepreneur of the Year and Entrepreneurial Community of the Year awards are available online at http://www.marketplaceforentrepreneurs.org, http://www.conrad.senate.gov/  and, http://www.agdepartment.com/.   Forms may also be obtained by calling Marketplace at 888-384-8410. Nominations must be received by November 16, 2007.

"Marketplace empowers people across North Dakota and creates a climate where entrepreneurship and innovation can thrive.  The Entrepreneurial Community of the Year Award highlights those places that support an entrepreneurial climate, resulting in jobs and training North Dakota's future business leaders," Conrad and Johnson said.

Marketplace is North Dakota's premiere economic development effort. The day-long event brings together aspiring entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, corporations, universities, foundations and community and business leaders to exchange ideas, discuss the latest innovations and share skills and technology. Senator Conrad and Commissioner Johnson are the organizing sponsors of Marketplace. 

Last January, more than 10,000 people turned out at the FargoDome for the 2007 Marketplace for Entrepreneurs.  The annual economic development summit drew visitors from across the region with the opportunity to view more than 300 exhibits of innovative products and services and to participate in hundreds of different workshops.