2015 Community Innovation Fair Application
The 2015 Community Innovation Fair will provide opportunities for residents to highlight their
entrepreneurship ideas and vision for neighborhood vitality in West Bloomington. This neighborhood is rich
in history with people ready to lead the charge for change to prosperity and sustainability. On April 25, 2015
from 2 pm to 5 pm, the fair will give residents the opportunity to share their ideas for future business ventures
or neighborhood improvement in West Bloomington. The fair will also provide opportunities for non-profit
organizations to showcase their social enterprise ideas. We anticipate innovative investment opportunities.
Everyone attending the event will have a voice in voting for the best ideas for implementation and the 2 best
resident ideas will receive a stipend to launch their concept. Residents and non-profit organizations are
eligible to submit a proposal with priority given to projects benefiting the West Bloomington area.
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Categories
Important instructions, including submission format instructions and selection criteria
Special expert personalized advising opportunity for residents
Acceptance and next steps
Additional questions
Community Innovation Fair Pitch Categories
The Community Innovation Fair pitch should be program-focused and focus on either:
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Neighborhood Improvement Projects within West Bloomington
Community Engagement Activities within West Bloomington
Youth Activities and Engagement for West Bloomington Residents
Social Innovation
Small Business Entrepreneurship
Instructions For Submitting Community Innovation Fair Application
What is a Community Innovation Fair?
The Community Innovation Fair is a unique opportunity for residents and non-profit organizations to present
their new idea in the format of a booth a street fair in the Friendship Park area. The Community Innovation
Fair booths are ideas that are being developed, meaning that the ideas are in the brainstorming, early
development, or early implementation stage. The goal is to have the booth showcase the idea and invite
feedback from residents and community stakeholders. This format provides presenters with an opportunity to
formulate their idea, collaborate with others interested in their idea, and receive feedback and ideas. The goal
is a dynamic fair in which participants and attendees will network and collaborate about the innovative ideas,
and the hope is that we will see many of these ideas effectively implemented in the future. Of those selected,
the top 10 resident applications will receive $100 prize to develop their booth as well as a mentor to guide
them in its creation. At the Community Innovation Fair attendees will have the opportunity to vote on their
favorite concept with the winner receiving $2,500 in start-up funds and the second place finisher receiving
$1,500 in start-up funds. Small Business Entrepreneurship applicants may or may not be eligible for the
resident winner stipend depending upon the stage of the concept. All applicants will be notified at time of
acceptance if they qualify to compete for the stipend.
Format: The selected participants will be given a 10 x 10 outdoor space on the day of the fair, April 25th
starting at noon. The participants will have 2 hours to set up their booth and a pop tent and one folding table
will be made available if needed. The Fair will begin at 2:00 p.m. and attendees will be able to vote on their
favorite idea. There will be separate voting for resident booths and non-profit booths. Voting will end at 4:30
p.m. with the winners being announced at 5:00 p.m.
How to Apply
We welcome submissions pertaining to:
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Neighborhood Improvement Projects within West Bloomington
Community Building/Engagement Activities within West Bloomington
Youth Activities and Engagement for West Bloomington Residents
Social Innovation
Small Business Entrepreneurship
Application Submission Format
Narrative: 1,000 word maximum written submission (longer narratives will not be reviewed and will be
automatically rejected) OR 3 minute video OR a scheduled 3 minute in person presentation scheduled for the
afternoon of March 31, 2015 must be received by 4:30 p.m. on March 27, 2015. If you wish to do a
presentation, you must sign up by 4:30 p.m. on March 27, 2015 by contacting Jennifer Baker at
[email protected] or by telephone at (309) 834-9237.
Application Selection Criteria
Residents and Non-Profit Organizations are eligible to submit an application. The application should include
the details described below. The application will be evaluated based on the level of innovation, the expected
impact and description of goals, and the details that indicate that it will be effective.
The application will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
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Problem: Describe the problem that you are trying to solve.
Solution: What is your proposed innovation? Why is it important? How will it be implemented?
Innovation: How is the idea new and innovative?
Feasibility: Why will it work? What evidence do you have to support your claim?
What is the Expected Impact? What will be the outcomes, and what metrics will be used to measure
the outcomes?
Management and Financing: Who will lead the enterprise? What are the proposed or anticipated
funding sources or revenues? The application submitter must be directly involved with the leadership
or management of the program or organization.
Describe Stage of Idea: Are you in the brainstorming stage, early development, or early
implementation stage? What is your progress? How much funding, if any, has been raised? When the
idea was initially developed? Ideas in the brainstorming, early development, and early implementation
stage will be considered equally.
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Your "Ask": How are you hoping to advance your program or idea by presenting at the Community
Innovation Fair? If the audience is sold on your idea, how can they invest human or financial resources
into your project? Do you need funds to launch or scale your project? Would you like feedback on a
specific component of your idea? Are you seeking advisors or local partners?
Quality: Applications will be evaluated based upon level of community impact, innovativeness,
feasibility and community need.
Application Review and Selection
Community Innovation Fair applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on March 27, 2015 or be scheduled
for a presentation on March 31, 2015. The highest quality applications will be selected for a booth at the
Community Innovation Fair. Of those selected, the top 10 resident applications will be provided $100 in
funding for their booth. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as you decide that you would
like to present. Submitters will be notified about the decision on their application by April 3, 2015 by 4:30
p.m.
Application Acceptance and Next Steps
If my application is accepted, what are the next steps?
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The applicant will be notified that their application has been reviewed and accepted for presentation at
the Community Innovation Fair.
Funding to the resident applicants selected for the Community Fair will be made available at the time
the applicant is notified of their acceptance.
At the time of acceptance, resident applicants will be notified of professional that is willing to mentor
them in the development of their booth. It is not required that the applicants utilize the identified
professional mentor, but it is highly recommended.
Accepted applicants must adhere to deadlines and guidelines, and they must promptly respond to
communication.
What should be included in the booth at the Community Innovation Fair?
If you are accepted to have a booth at the Community Innovation Fair, you should include all of the important
items in your application: problem, solution, innovation, evidence-base, impact, management and financing as
well as the stage of your idea and your "ask". When you are creating your booth, you should consider what you
hope to learn from the experience. What type of ideas/plans and obstacles are you currently working
through? What type of people do you hope to connect with at the conference and during your session? The
answers to these questions may help you to highlight certain aspect of your booth and de-emphasize others.
The most effective booths will explain your innovation in a way that is immediately understood by the
audience. By briefly stopping at the booth, the audience should understand why the idea is needed, how the
idea will be implemented, and how the impact will occur. The booth should provide concrete examples and
real-life stories to illustrate the plan.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email Jennifer Baker at [email protected] or by telephone at (309) 8349237.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
1. Do I have to live or work on the West Side of Bloomington to apply?
No, you do not have to live in West Bloomington to apply. We are accepting applications for ideas
impacting the west side of Bloomington, from individuals and non-profits throughout the
Bloomington-Normal Area.
2. Does it have to be a large scale project or idea to apply?
No, we are accepting applications for all types of project ideas. From small neighborhood projects
to detailed business start-ups, all ideas will be considered.
3. How detailed of an idea must it be to apply?
We are accepting applications for a wide range of ideas for both new businesses and neighborhood
improvement project ideas. You do not need to have a detailed business plan or proposal to
apply. Please just provide your thoughts on the application and the Community Innovation Fair team
will consider your proposal. In fact, if your idea is selected, we will provide you with a mentor to
help you in preparing your idea for the fair.
4. What help is there to showcase my idea at the fair?
There is no application fee to participate and the top 10 resident applications will be given $100 to
help showcase their idea at the fair. We can also provide you a mentor to help prepare your idea for
the fair.
5. Is there any assistance in putting my application together?
Yes, please contact Jennifer Baker at (309) 834-9237 or [email protected] and she can answer
any questions or concerns you may have.